BLUE - Poetry Analysis

Overview

100

How many lines?

There are 54 lines.

200

How many stanzas?

There are 12 stanzas. 

(10 not including the vocalizing breaks)

300

Does it contain a rhyme sequence? 

Not all of the time, but towards the beginning verses, there’s rhymes such as: “I try to live in black and white, but I'm so blue

I'd like to mean it when I say I'm over you”

“I told you a lie, désolé, mon amour

I'm trying my best, don't know what's in store”

Words

100

Do any of the words create an image?

• Yes, I do think lines like “You were born reaching for your mother's hands // Victim of your father’s plans to rule the world.” were meant to have both a literal, and figurative meaning.
• They were quite literally, “reaching for their mother’s hands” as a baby does, but also looking for comfort to be shielded from their father’s cruel plans.

200

Is figurative language used?

• The song uses colour to dictate emotions.
• In the beginning, the metaphor used is”I try to live in black and white, but I'm so blue”
• She tries to see everything objectively, but she’s so “blue”. 
• The colour blue is usually associated with sadness.
• Another metaphor used is “Birds of a feather, now i’m ashamed”.
• This shows how the author thought they were similar, but in the end, they did not work out. 
• Finally,  “Just a baby born blue now, now” was meant to convey that she feels like she’s been born sad.

300

Does the author use repetition?

•  The phrase “I don't blame you // But I can't change you // Don't hate you // But we can't save you” is also repeated twice, which could symbolize her constant trying to change the person, but failing each time.
• The word blue is repeated a lot during the song, along with “father”, which she uses to compare how her partner’s toxic traits reflect their father’s. 

Themes

100

What messages does this song convey?

• This message conveys the constant trying to save someone and fix them, but ultimately not being able to change their toxic personality
• I think this song is to translate this emotion and feeling of being stuck with regret, knowing that the relationship is over
• I think this symbolizing finding yourself after losing someone because of their inabiloty to change.

200

What emotions come up while reading this song?

• This song has a very relaxing background sound, that blends well with the smooth transition of lyrics.
• I think this makes the song very calming, and displays the feeling of peace.
• There is a change in emotion in the second half of the song, BORN BLUE
• This has multiple shift in emotion, starting with a blurred sound, similar to a lullaby.
• There is then a sudden change in the bridge, causing it to sound suspenseful.
• This might bring up the emotions fear and nervousness.

300

What is the author trying to tell the reader of this song?

• I think that the author is trying to tell the reader/listener to pay attention to who you surround yourself with.
• Since this song is about trying to change someone that can’t be changed, and how it affects you, it would make sense that the artist is trying to inform the reader of the numbness and detachment she feels due to this person.  
• It expresses how she’s struggling to convey and express her feelings.

Perspective

100

What point of view is this song written in?

• This song is written in first person.
• This means it is written in the perspective of a character.
• We know this because the song uses words such as “I, my, and me.

200

Who is the intended audience of this song?

• It think this song is intended for teenagers and young adults, as it speaks about they hardships of first relationships.
• And the confusing aspects on toxic personalities.

300

Why do you think the author chose this perspective?

• I think the author chose this perspective to show the point of view on the person that is hurting.
• How this put pressure on them and affected them.
• This also makes the change in tone in the music play an important role, since it is reflecting on the emotions of the character.

Other Noticings

100

How does the title relate to the song?

The title summarizes the emotions she is lamenting about with this song, conveying feeling “Blue”/Sad.

200

What did we enjoy about this song?

• It’s very poetic, with the way it expresses different emotions and thoughts through colors and visualizations.
• Billie’s airy, serene vocalizations reflect the sadness and peace of the lyrics.

300

What was hard to understand about the song?

• It’s pretty easy to gather that the lyrics come from a place of discontent with something, but there.
• At first, many thought it was about a toxic childhood, and they was partly right. 
• Turns out, it was about how her previous partner childhood contributed to their toxic relationship.