Julia,+Josh+and+Carolyn


 * All three of your song choices are right on the money and your word choice and analysis are excellent. Overall, three of the strongest choices and interpretations - Great job!

Ambiguous ** //It Ends Tonight// by The All-American Rejects

Your subtleties They strangle me I can’t explain myself at all. And all that wants And all that needs All I don’t want to need at all.

__The walls start breathing__ __ My minds unweaving __ Maybe it’s best you leave me alone. __A weight is lifted__ On this evening I give the final blow. __When darkness turns to light__ __ It ends tonight __ , __ It ends tonight __. A falling star At least I fall alone. I can’t explain what you can’t explain. You’re finding things that you didn’t know I look at you with such disdain

The walls start breathing My minds unweaving Maybe it’s best you leave me alone. A weight is lifted On this evening __I give the final blow__.

__When darkness turns to light__ __ It ends tonight __ , __ It ends tonight __. __ Just a little insight will make this right It’s too late to fight It ends tonight __ , __ It ends tonight __.

Now I’m on my own side It’s better than being on your side It’s my fault when your blind It’s better that I see it through your eyes.

//It Ends Tonight//, by the All-American Rejects, is one example of a song that demonstrates an ambiguous tone. The lyrics, “when darkness turns to light, it ends tonight,” provide the listener with the dilemma of interpreting the lyrics literally or figuratively. Literally, the lyrics, “when darkness turns to light,” cause the listener to think of the night ending and the sun rising, when dark turns to light, or night to day. The figurative meaning of the lyrics, in the context of the song, is about a relationship where one is torn between whether or not to remain in the relationship. The decision is made to end the darkness, or the relationship, and turn it to light, which ensures a clean slate, or in other words a new start. The background music present in the song helps to further the idea that the song presents an ambiguous tone. From moments of pure piano, to sections of numerous instruments, as well as slow and fast tempos, the music continually forces listeners to dwell on the literal and figurative meanings present in the song. The constant changes in the musical background, along with the lyrics, strengthen the presence of the ambiguous tone within the song. //I've Got the World on a String// by Frank Sinatra
 * Joyous **

I've got the world on a string,   __sittin' on a rainbow__. Got the string around my finger. __What a world, what a life - I'm in love__.

I got a song  that I sing,    __I can make the rain go__ Anytime I move my finger. __Lucky__    __me, can't you see I'm in__     __love__. __Life is a beautiful thing__    as long as I hold the string. I'd be a silly so-and-so if I should ever let it go.

I've got the world on a string, sitting on a rainbow Got the string around my finger. What a world, what a life - I'm in love. Life is a beautiful thing as long as I hold the string I'd be a silly so-and-so if I should ever let it go.

I've got the world on a string, sitting on a rainbow. Got the string around my finger. __What a world! Man, this is the life__. Hey, now! __I'm so in love__.

This song, //I've Got the World on a String//, evokes a feeling of happy-go-luckiness that ignores the possibility of things going wrong. The artist sings about sitting on a rainbow, which represents the lack of bad weather, and goes on to reveal his high spirit is a result of being in love. When he says he can make the rain go, it demonstrates his confident, positive outlook on his future, even if things should tend to appear a little gray sometimes. The lyrics’ meaning is obvious when it says life is beautiful, and his repeated statement of how lucky he is, lets us know he believes everything is going just the way he desires. The singer shows us the extent of his joy in an attitude that strongly suggests he wouldn’t trade his life right now for anything, because “Man, this is the life.” The musical background helps to further the joyous tone of the song, beginning soft and letting the lyrics push forward and take charge. The tempo then changes, becoming upbeat and jazzy, which strengthens the presence of the joyous tone.
 * Didactic

//If Everyone Cared// by Nickelback **

From underneath the trees, we watch the sky Confusing stars for satellites I never dreamed that you'd be mine But here we are, we're here tonight

Singing Amen, I, I'm alive Singing Amen, I, I'm alive

__If everyone cared and nobody cried__ __ If everyone loved and nobody lied If everyone shared and swallowed their pride Then we'd see the day when nobody died __

And I'm singing

Amen I, Amen I, I'm alive Amen I, Amen I, Amen I, I'm alive

And in the air the fireflies Our only light in paradise __We'll show the world they were wrong__ __ And teach them all to sing along __

Singing Amen, I, I'm alive Singing Amen, I, I'm alive (I'm alive)

And as we lie beneath the stars We realize how small we are __If they could love like you and me__ __ Imagine what the world could be __

If everyone cared and nobody cried If everyone loved and nobody lied If everyone shared and swallowed their pride Then we'd see the day when nobody died When nobody died...

We'd see the day, we'd see the day When nobody died We'd see the day, we'd see the day When nobody died We'd see the day when nobody died The song, //If Everyone Cared//, by Nickelback, brings forth a didactic tone, due to the fact the lyrics present the point that all mankind needs to care for one another. The lyrics, “if everyone cared and nobody cried, if everyone loved and nobody lied, if everyone shared and swallowed their pride, then we'd see the day when nobody died,” present the fact that the world could be a much more amicable place. Nickelback provides listeners with the idea that one good deed after another could truly make the world a better place, one without war and tragedy. The lyrics, “if they could love like you and me, imagine what the world could be,” once again administers the thought that the entire world has the potential to be a peaceful and loving environment for all, as long as the population, meaning everyone, cares. The musical background within the song helps to support the didactic tone. The tempo of the song remains at a constant, medium tempo, as though the band was speaking its message directly to the listeners. The instruments orchestrated within the song are all strong, as though they are pushing forth the song’s meaning. Through the music, as well as the lyrics, a didactic tone is present.