Metaphor

Metaphor is an implied comparison identifying the two Examples of Metaphors in Lyrics things compared with each other. By the Light of the Silvery Moon Note : A metaphor is a different grammatical construct (Edward Madden ) from the simile. The simile deliberately and obviously says to the listener, “I am comparing X to Y, and Place park, scene dark, telling you that they are alike” (“crazy like a fox”; Silv’ry moon is shining through the trees. “Life is a cabaret”). A metaphor is not a simile with Cast two. me, you, the “like” or “as” missing. A metaphor uses imagery Sound of kisses floating on the breeze. or language from one idea and inserts it into the other Act one begun idea...from which the listener must infer the Dialogue, “Where would you like to spoon?” comparison. My cue with you, Underneath the silv’ry moon. Examples: By the light The ship plows the seas Of the silvery moon, A volley of oaths I want to spoon, a marble brow To my honey I’ll croon sifting the evidence Love’s tune the long arm of the law Honeymoon. time flies Keep a-shining in June. she is my rock Your silv’ry beams I am the light Will bring love’s dreams, We’ll be cuddling soon, By the silvery moon.

Metaphor v. simile Act two, scene new, Roses blooming all around the place. Simile is explicit; metaphor is implied. Cast three, you, me, Preacher with a solemn-looking face. Simile states the comparison; metaphor assumes a Choir sings, bell rings. similarity between the two things being compared. Preacher: “You are wed forevermore!” Act two, all through, Metaphor creates a new entity which has Ev’ry night the same encore. characteristics of both objects being compared.

Examples: Stormy Weather Simile : a brow as smooth/white/stony as a piece (Ted Kochler ) of marble Metaphor : a marble brow Don’t know why There’s no sun up in the sky, Simile : oaths flung like a volley of arrows Stormy weather, Metaphor : a volley of oaths Since my man and I ain’t together, Keeps rainin’ all the time. Simile : My father is as steady as a ship Life is bare, Metaphor : My father navigates this family Gloom and mis’ry everywhere, through the tempests of our lives Stormy weather, Metaphor - 1

Just can’t get my poor self together. Made the mercury I’m weary all the time, Jump to ninety-three. The time, Yes sir! So weary all the time. We’re having a heat wave, When he went away A tropical heat wave. The blues walked in and met me. The way that she moves that If he stays away Thermometer proves that Old rockin’ chair will get me. She certainly can All I do is pray Can-can. The Lord above will let me Walk in the sun once more. Can’t go on, Turn on the Heat Ev’rything I had is gone, (Buddy DeSylva) Stormy weather, Since my man and I ain’t together. Turn on the heat! Keeps rainin’ all the time, Start in to strut! Keeps rainin’ all the time. Wiggle and wobble I walk around, heavy-hearted and sad. And warm up the hut! Night comes around and I’m still feelin’ bad. Oh! Oh! It’s thirty below! Rain pourin’ down, blindin’ ev’ry hope I had. Turn on the heat, This pitterin’ patterin’ Fifty degrees, Beatin’ an’ splatterin’ Get hot for Papa Drives me mad. Or Papa will freeze! Love, love, love, love, Oh! Oh! Start melting the snow! This misery is just too much for me. If you are good, Can’t go one. My little radiator, Ev’rything I had is gone, It’s understood Stormy weather, You’ll get a gumdrop later! Since my man and I ain’t together, Turn on the heat! Keeps rainin’ all the time, Pour in the oil! Keeps rainin’ all the time. Start in to bubble And come to a boil. You put the burn on for Papa And turn on the heat! Heat Wave (Irving Berlin )

We’re having a heat wave, Summer Me, Winter Me A tropical heat wave. (Alan and Marilyn Bergman) The temp’rature’s rising -- It isn’t surprising -- Summer me, Winter me She certainly can And with your kisses morning me, Can-can. Evening me, She started the heat wave And as the world slips far away, star away, By letting her seat wave, Forever me with love! And in such a way that Wonder me, wander me, then by a fire The customers say that Pleasure me, peaceful me, She certainly can And in the silence quietly whisper me, Can-can. Forever me with love! Gee! And every day I’ll gentle you, tender you, Her anatomy And oh, the way I’ll velvet you, clover you,

Metaphor - 2

I’ll wrap you up and ribbon you, Rainbow you, My Smorgasbord of Love And shower you with shine! (Phil Olsen, Don’t Hug Me ) Suddenly, magic’ly, We found each other, You’re my hard dish delight There we were, here we are. My buffet from above I plan to let you happy me, My snak bar desire Summer me, Winter me, My smorgasbord of love Always be mine! And I can’t get enough of your tater tot eyes Your cauliflower ears Overdoing It Your lips taste like moon pies. You’re my artichoke heart A little metaphor goes a long way, particularly when a My chocolate cream dove literal image is involved. If you extend the metaphor My you-peel-‘em shrimp too far, or use it too often, you run the risk of being My smorgasbord of love. comic, intentionally or otherwise. And when I’m close to you, my pickle-herring lady You’re the Foam on My Latte With your has brown nose (S. Guy, The Big Deal ) And your kisses like gravy I ask myself how lucky can I be? You’re the foam on my latte You’re my chocolate sprinkle top. You’re my hamhock surprise I hope to you that I’m not a.... My loos meat glove Drip in my own coffee shop? My pork lean treasure My smorgasbord of love. You’re the cap o’ my ‘ccino. You’re my daily double cup. And I can’t get enough of your casserole hair All I hope is I’ll be no Your meatball cheeks Mug that you simply take up. Your cantaloupes down there. You’re my beef tip You’re my finest brand espresso, My Sloppy Joe dream You’re the flavor of my week. My corn dog passion So listen while I confess My bowl of vanilla ice cream (with sprinkles). Oh! Come hear the java jive, Hear it speak! And if you leave me, This much I know is true Hey, Cora, why don’t we get ourselves café au laid? My love will taste like a bowling shoe Let’s have ourselves a little brew ha ha. Listen to me For I will starve myself now, I’m talkin’ Sweet and Low. Just to be with you. My love, my bread of life You’re my hot mocha grande My smorgasbord of love. To you I’m not just another Joe Soon we’ll both be beyond a “Thanks! The Word of Your Body We will have ours to go.” (Steven Slater, Spring Awakening )

O, I’m gonna be wounded, O, I’m gonna be your wound. O, I’m gonna bruise you. O, you’re gonna be my bruise.

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Mortgaged up to here. But don’t pass the plate, folks, Mixed Metaphors Don’t pass the cup; I figure whenever you’re down and out, Within a single lyric, utilize a consistent metaphor The only way is up. scheme. When your images are literal (as opposed to And I’ll be like a rosebud, metaphoric), try to draw the images in a single lyric High on the vine; from the same realm of images. For example, if you Don’t thumb your nose, bud, are using images having to do with the sky and clouds, Take a tip from mine. don’t then also speak of things which are indoors (such I’m a little short of elbow room, as fireplaces or refrigerators). Here are some examples But let me get me some, of mixed metaphors, followed by examples of And look out, world, here I come. consistent imagery.

The Best is Yet to Come (Carolyn Leigh ) I’ve Got Your Number (Carolyn Leigh ) Out of the tree of life I just picked me a plum. I’ve got your number, You came along and ev- I know you inside out. ‘Rything’s startin’ to hum. You ain’t no Eagle Scout, Still, it’s a real good bet You’re all at sea! The best is yet to come. Oh yes, you’ll brag a lot, The best is yet to come Wave your own flag a lot, And, babe, won’t it be fine? But you’re unsure a lot, You think you’ve seen the sun, You’re a lot like me. But you ain’t seen it shine. Oh, I’ve got your number Wait till the warm-up’s underway, And what you’re looking for. Wait till our lips have met, And what you’re looking for Wait till you see that sunshine day, Just suits me fine! You ain’t seen nothin’ yet! We’ll break the rules a lot, The best is yet to come We’ll be damn’ fools a lot, And, babe, won’t it be fine? But then why should we not The best is yet to come, How could we not Come the day you’re mine. Combine When I’ve got your number I’m gonna teach you to fly, And I’ve got the glow you’ve got, We’ve only tasted the wind. I’ve got your number We’re gonna drain the cup dry, And, baby, Wait till your charms are ripe You know you’ve got mine! For these arms to surround. You think you’ve flown before, But you ain’t left the ground.

Hey, Look Me Over (Carolyn Leigh )

Hey, look me over, Lend me an ear, Fresh out of clover, Metaphor - 4

Make your sanctimonious little speech to me, The Rules of the Road But oh, my darling, you’ll forgive my inability to (Carolyn Leigh ) concentrate. I think I’m dealing with a powder keg that’s just about So these are the ropes, to blow. The tricks of the trade, Will the end result deflate me, or will you annihilate The rules of the road. me? You’re one of the dopes You fascinate me so! For whom they were made, You aggravate me, you irritate me, The rules of the road. You fascinate me so! You follow that kiss And recklessly miss A bend of the road. Consistency of Imagery in Lyrics Then suddenly this: The end of the road. So love is a hoax. On the Good Ship Lollipop A glittering string (Sidney Clare ) Of little white lies. But these are the jokes, On the good ship Lollipop And what if they bring It’s a sweet trip to a candy shop The tears to your eyes? Where bon-bons play Well, love often shows On the sunny beach of Peppermint Bay. A funny return, Lemonade stands ev’rywhere, The brighter it glows, Crackerjack bands fill the air, The longer you burn, And there you are And Lord only knows Happy landing on a chocolate bar. Love has little concern See the sugar bowl do a Tootsie Roll For the fools of the road! With the big bad Devil’s food cake. But that’s how it goes, If you eat too much, ooh, ooh, You live and you learn You’ll awake with a tummy ache. The rules of the road! On the good ship Lollipop It’s a night trip, into bed you hop With this command: You Fascinate Me So “All aboard for Candy Land.” (Carolyn Leigh )

I have a feeling that beneath the little halo on your head There lies a thought or two the devil might be int’rested to know. You’re like the finish of a novel that I’ll fin’lly have to take to bed, You fascinate me so! I feel like Christopher Columbus when I’m near enough to contemplate The sweet geography descending from your eyebrow to your toe. The possibilities are more than I can possibly enumerate, That’s why you fascinate me so. So sermonize and preach to me.

Metaphor - 5

from Pretty Little Picture The Ballad of The Shape of Things (Stephen Sondheim, Forum) (Sheldon Harnick )

Feel the roll of the playful waves! Completely round is the perfect pearl See the sails as they swell! The oyster manufactures. Hear the whips on the galley slaves! Completely round is the steering wheel Pretty little picture? That leads to compound fractures. Well, Completely round is the golden fruit Let it carry your cares away, That hangs in the orange tree. Out of sight, out of mind. Yes, the circle shape is quite renounced, Past the buoy, and through the bay, And sad to say, it can be found Soon there’s nothing but sea and spray. In the dirty low-down runaround Night descends and the moon’s aglow, My true love gave to me, Your arms entwined, Yes, my true love gave to me. You steal below, And far behind Completely square is the velvet box At the edge of day, He said my ring would be in. The bong of the bell of the buoy in the bay, Completely square is the envelope And the boat and the boy and the bride are away! He wrote farewell to me in. Completely square is the handkerchief All I Need is the Girl I flourish constantly, (Stephen Sondheim ) As it dries my eyes of the tears I’ve shed, And blows my nose ‘til it turns bright red, Once my clothes were shabby. For a perfect square is my true love’s head. Tailors called me “cabbie.” He will not marry me, So I took a vow. No he will not marry me. Said, “This bum’ll Be Beau Brummell.” Rectangular is the hotel door Now I’m smooth and snappy. My true love tried to sneak through. Now my tailor’s happy. Rectangular is the transom I’m the cat’s meow! Over which I had to peek through. My wardrobe is a wow! Rectangular is the hotel room Paris silk, I entered angrily. Harris tweed. Now, rectangular is the wooden box There’s only one thing I need: Where lies my love ‘neath the grazing flocks. Got my tweed pressed, They said he died of the chicken pox. Got my best vest, In part I must agree: All I need now is the girl! One chick too many had he. Got my striped tie, Got my hopes high, Triangular is the piece of pie Got the time and the place and I got rhythm, I eat to ease my sorrow. No all I need’s the girl to go with ‘em. Triangular is the hatchet blade If she’ll I plan to hide tomorrow. Just appear, we’ll Triangular the relationship Take this big town for a whirl. That now has ceased to be, And if she’ll say, “My darling, I’m yours,” And the self-same shape is a garment thin, I’ll throw away my striped tie That fastens on with a safety pin And my best pressed tweed. to a prize I had no wish to win; All I really need It’s a lasting memory Is the girl! That my true love gave to me.

Metaphor - 6

That dream need never be Before the Parade Passes By If the ship I sing (Jerry Herman ) Doesn’t also bring My own true love to me. Before the parade passes by, If the ship I sing I’m gonna go and taste Saturday’s high life; Doesn’t also bring Before the parade passes by, My own true love to me. I’m gonna get some life back into my life. I’m ready to move out in front. I’ve had enough of just passing by life; Winner Takes All With the rest of them, (Holly Near ) With the best of them, I can hold my head up high, Well I vowed I'd never be For I’ve got a goal again, The kind of wife with apron strings I’ve got a drive again, That kept you home and out of a weeknight game I’m gonna feel my heart comin’ alive again, But you played a cheatin hand Before the parade passes by. Thinkin I'd stand by my man Look at the crowd up ahead, Well a card game and a woman just ain't the same Listen and hear that brass harmony growing: Look at that crowd up ahead, So lay your heart on the table Pardon me if my old spirit is showing. All the love that you can raise All of those lights over there You can bet I'm up to here with your underhanded Seem to be telling me where I’m going: ways When the whistles blow But I see that you've been bluffin And the cymbals crash And it's my turn to call And the sparklers light the sky, Oh freedom's my fortune, I’m gonna raise the roof, You lose. I’m gonna carry on. Winner takes all Gimme an old trombone, gimme an old baton, Before the parade passes by. You said that I'm your security That I gave you the strength to be My Ship The kind of man that a woman like me could hold (Ira Gershwin) But now I'm startin to find Honey you've been laggin behind My ship has sails that are made of silk. The time has come for me to either call or fold My decks are trimmed with gold. And of jam and spice Oh lay your heart on the table There’s a paradise All the love that you can raise In the hold. You can bet I'm up to here with your underhanded My ship’s aglow with a million pearls, ways And rubies fill each bin. But I see that you've been bluffin The sun sits high And it's my turn to call In a sapphire sky Oh freedom's my fortune, Why my ship comes in. You lose. This winner takes all. I can wait the years Till it appears. One fine day one Spring. But the pearls and such, They won’t mean much If there’s missing just one thing: I do not care if that day arrives,

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