The Outline and Annotated Bibliography

Mann 1

Please see all marginal comments for specific revision guidance. Also, there is a LOT of irrelevant info here, which I have stricken out using Word’s track changes function. Please make sure that you focus ONLY on doing your literary analysis and then arguing the specific reason for the song’s popularity. Please also remove and replace any irrelevant sources (as noted on the Annotated Bibliography).

The River:

The River: Lyrics

You know a dream is like a river Ever changin' as it flows And a dreamer's just a vessel That must follow where it goes Trying to learn from what's behind you And never knowing what's in store Makes each day a constant battle Just to stay between the shores

And I will sail my vessel 'Til the river runs dry Like a bird upon the wind These waters are my sky I'll never reach my destination If I never try So I will sail my vessel 'Til the river runs dry

Too many times we stand aside And let the waters slip away 'Til what we put off 'til tomorrow It has now become today So don't you sit upon the shoreline And say you're satisfied Choose to chance the rapids And dare to dance that tide

And I will sail my vessel 'Til the river runs dry Mann 2

Like a bird upon the wind

These waters are my sky I'll never reach my destination If I never try So I will sail my vessel 'Til the river runs dry

There's bound to be rough waters And I know I'll take some falls With the good Lord as my captain I can make it through them all

And I will sail my vessel 'Til the river runs dry Like a bird upon the wind These waters are my sky I'll never reach my destination If I never try So I will sail my vessel 'Til the river runs dry Lord, I will sail my vessel 'Til the river runs dry (Brooks, Garth & Shaw, Victoria. LyricsFreak.com, 2016) Mann 3

The River: Outline

1. Introduction

a. Poetry v. Song Lyrics

a.i. Similarities

a.i.1. Intent

a.i.1.a. Reach the audience

a.i.1.b. Inspire the audience to grasp meaning

a.ii. Differences

a.ii.1. Lyrics Are Accidental Poems

a.ii.1.a. Zapruder article in Boston Review

a.ii.2. Lyrics are…

a.ii.2.a. Enveloped in song

a.ii.2.a.i. How does this affect meaning?

a.ii.2.b. Not meant to stand alone

a.ii.3. Poems are…

a.ii.3.a. Enveloped in silence

a.ii.3.a.i. How does this affect meaning?

a.ii.3.b. Literary

b. What makes a song popular

b.i. Music

b.ii. Words

b.iii. Artist

c. Thesis Mann 4

c.i. The popularity of the song Garth Brooks’ The River, co-written

and performed by Garth Brooks in 1991, became an incredibly

popular song because of its uses of simile, metaphor, theme,and

alliteration, and assonance to drive a message that resonated with

people everywhere thatto argue that we all have an opportunity to

make our dreams come true, regardless of barriers or current

cultural or political environments. It This song’s message became

an anthem of sorts for people to see that even when times are

tough, you can persevere or, use different roads and methods to

make your dreams come true, a message that is popular with

listeners because….

2. Literary Techniques in The River

a. Similes

a.i. “A dream is like a river…”

a.ii. “…Like a bird upon the wind…”

a.ii.1.a. How They Add Meaning

b. Metaphor

b.i. Water

1. “Ever changin' as it flows…”

2. …These waters are my sky…” Mann 5

b.ii. Boat

1. “…a dreamer's just a vessel…”

2. ” I will sail my vessel…”

b.ii.1.a. How They Both Add Meaning

c. Assonance

c.i. “Just to stay between the shores…”

c.ii. “Too many times we stand aside…”

c.iii. 'Til what we put off 'til tomorrow…”

c.iv. “So don't you sit upon the shoreline/And say you're satisfied”

c.v. “Choose to chance the rapids/And dare to dance that tide…’

c.v.1.a. How They Add Meaning

d. Alliteration

d.i. If I never try

d.ii. “…my sky…”

d.ii.1.a. How They Add Meaning

3. The River’s Popularity Today

a. Why is it popular?

a.i. Loyal Fans of Garth Brooks Mann 6

a.ii. Loyal Fans of Country Western Music

b. Why is it Meaningful?

b.i. Water Theme

b.i.1. Appropriate in any year

b.i.2. Hopeful in Hopelessness

b.i.3. Faith in Faithlessness

b.ii. Water Theme Commonality with Famous Poets

b.ii.1. Ralph Waldo Emerson

b.ii.1.a. Two Rivers

b.ii.2. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

b.ii.2.a. To the River Charles

b.iii. Tradition and Values

b.iii.1. Politicians v. Gangsta Rap

b.iii.1.a. Jon Pareles’ Article

4. The Culture in 1992 Mann 7 a. President Clinton very clearly articulates the culture of the early 90s in his

1992 campaign speech.

a.i. Financial climate

a.ii. Middle Class Woes b. Racial Tensions

b.i. Impact of How Whites See Blacks

b.i.1. Local News creating modern racism

b.i.2. There is hope c. How The River Succeeds in 1992 d. Theme e. Dreams & Dreamers f. Good or bad g. Beauty of… h. Heartache of… i. j. k. Lost Opportunities l. How They Make Us Feel m. What Happens to Them n. Do We Get Them Back?

o. How The River Fails in 1992

o.i. David Browne Review Mann 8

5. Conclusion

a. Restate Thesis

b. What to Take Away

b.i. Personal Meaning

b.ii. Literary Meaning

b.iii. Cultural Meaning

The River: Mann 9

An Analysis of the Song and the Writer:

Annotated Bibliography

Brooks, Garth, & Shaw, Victoria. “The River.” Rec. 15 June 1990. Ropin’ the Wind.

Capital Nashville, 1991. LyricsFreak.com. Web. 25 Feb 2016

This source provides the lyrics to the song, “The River,” written by Garth Brooks and

Victoria Shaw. The site does have an extensive list of song titles. It is credible as it gives credit for the writers, and does leave space for the public to write in with their comments.

It serves the purpose for this assignment, which is simply to have the lyrics.

Ifill, Gwen. “THE 1992 CAMPAIGN; Clinton's Standard Campaign Speech: A Call for

Responsibility.” The New York Times, 26 Apr. 1992. Web. 25 Feb. 2016.

This source is a fascinating account of President Clinton’s campaign speech in 1992. It demonstrates the exact culture around the time of Brook’s song release, The River.

Clinton exposes the wealthy while bringing into focus those who suffer the most: the middle class. Ifill does a good job of recounting past speeches and how they haven’t changed much. The New York Times is a reliable and valid source.

Paul Mann - 21950248

Course ID 500502

3645 W Firehawk Drive

Glendale, AZ 85308

[email protected] Mann 10

Entman, Robert M. “Blacks in the News: Television, Modern Racism and Cultural

Change.” Journalism Quarterly, Vol. 69, No. 2, Summer 1992, pp. 342-382.

Web. 25 Feb. 2016.

This source covers a study done regarding television media and its role in creating in the white race’s minds who the black race is. It highlights the culture and how the country was feeling during the time that the song The River was written and recorded. In addition it helps the reader understand how the lyrics of the song relate to racial tension and inequities of the time.

Especially in the area of local news, which only seems to focus on blacks committing local crimes. This then leads the white population to see blacks as criminals and dangerous. This article not only discusses media versus racism but the methods of the study and its hypotheses, two of which are that blacks are seen in a negative light, and whites do not believe that blacks are discriminated against. The Journalism Quarterly is a recognized and valid source.

Course ID 500502

Glendale, AZ 85308

Emerson, Ralph Waldo. “Two Rivers.” Poemhunter.com. 2016. Web. 25 Feb. 2016.

Poemhunter.com is a site that lists hundreds if not thousands of poems by both current and noncurrent authors. The poem helps articulate the theme of water and how its various interpretations are used not only in this poem but in the song The River. The site also includes thematic choices, the top 500, classical poems, and many other categories.

It also offers lists of current poetry contests. A very informative site.

Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. “To The River Charles.” Poemhunter.com. 2016. Web.

25 Feb. 2016.

Poemhunter.com is a site that lists hundreds if not thousands of poems by both current and noncurrent authors. The poem helps articulate the theme of water and how its various interpretations are used not only in this poem but in the song The River. The site also includes thematic choices, the top 500, classical poems, and many other categories. It also offers lists of current poetry contests. A very informative site.

Course ID 500502

Glendale, AZ 85308

Pareles, Jon. “POP CULTURE VIEW; Rapping and Politicking: Show Time on the

Stump.” The New York Times, 11 Jun. 1995. Web. 25 Feb. 2016. <

This article is all about politics, and believe it or not, gangsta rap. Pareles tries to uncover how politicians can be so rightwing and yet love movies and music that are anything but.

Then he parallels this hypocrisy with gangsta rap and how it exposes lies and blatantly tells the truth. Politicians fight against rappers, and the other way around, when what

Pareles wishes is that both would concentrate on the poor and the homeless. This article is useful for this essay because it shows the culture in the early-to-mid 90s, showing how well Brooks’ song was received. It is also useful for the essay because it articulates these differences – life should be lived but has many different paths that mean different things to different people. The New York Times is a reliable, credible source.

Course ID 500502

Glendale, AZ 85308

Browne, David. “RECORDINGS VIEW; The Kevin Costner Of Country Music.” The

New York Times, 6 Oct. 1991. Web. 25 Feb. 2016.

Although this article seems to be irrelevant to this requirement, it does show not only the culture of music at the time but also shows a critical view of Brooks and his music, namely the CD on which The River is included. It makes for an interesting opposition to the main part of the essay. Browne considers the album hollow, without much merit, or inspiration. I will use this source as a contrary to how popular this particular song was and how it tapped into the American psyche. The New York Times is a reliable, credible source.