The Band Perry
If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother
She'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colors
Oh, and life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no
Ain't even gray, but she buries her baby
The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time
If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time
And I'll be wearing white when I come into your kingdom
I'm as green as the ring on my little cold finger
I've never known the loving of a man
But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand
There's a boy here in town, says he'll love me forever
Who would have thought forever could be severed by
The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time
So put on your best, boys, and I'll wear my pearls
What I never did is done
A penny for my thoughts, oh no, I'll sell 'em for a dollar
They're worth so much more after I'm a goner
And maybe then you'll hear the words I been singing
Funny, when you're dead how people start listening
If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
The ballad of a dove
Go with peace and love
Gather up your tears, keep 'em in your pocket
Save them for a time when you're really gonna need them,
oh
The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time
So put on your best, boys
And I'll wear my pearls
 Song’s

A young person’s death should not be mourned;
their life should be celebrated.
 Not

message is interesting
about love, money, or sex
Most new songs are about one of these topics
 Teenage

“I’ve never known the loving of a man/ But it
sure felt nice when he was holding my hand”
 Recently

deceased
Died in a tragic accident

Car crash, mugging, etc.
 Seems

girl
very mature
Isn’t selfish; wants her family to be able to move
on

Definition: words that are not meant to be
interpreted literally

“I’m as green as the ring on my little cold finger”


The speaker is not ACTUALLY the color green
She is referring to the fact that she is young, or new to
the world

Definition: A figure of speech comparing two
unlike things using “like” or “as”

“I’m as green as the ring on my little cold finger”

Compares the speaker to the ring she is wearing using “as”

They are both new/young

Definition: words with similar ending sounds
appear at the end of lines

“The ballad of a dove/ Go with peace and love”

The words “dove” and “love” end with the same sound
and also appear at the end of lines
If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
• Gives the theme of the song at the beginning
• “If I die young…”
• Shows the romantic ideals of youth
• She (or he) doesn’t want to be mourned, she would rather have
her life remembered
• “Send me away with the words of a love song”
Lord make me a rainbow,
when she stands under my colors
Oh, and life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no
Ain't even gray, but she buries her baby
• Concerned about how her family will deal with the loss
• Wishes she could reassure her mother that everything will be
okay
• Death at a young age is unexpected, but she feels that she has
lived a full life
If I die young, bury me in satin
The sharp knife of a short life
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Well, I've had just enough time
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
And I'll be wearing white when I come into your kingdom
I'm as green as the ring on my little cold finger
There's a boy here in town, says he'll love me forever
Well, I've had just enough time
• She never got to experience love
• No one plans for death while they are young
So put on your best, boys, and I’ll wear my pearls
• It is too late to go back and do what she didn’t
• People pay more attention to accomplishments and wisdom once
the person who did it is dead
If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
The ballad of a dove
Go with peace and love
Gather up your tears, keep ‘em in your pocket
Save them for a time when you’re really gonna need them, oh
The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I’ve had just enough time
So put on your best boys
And I’ll wear my pearls
• Her family shouldn’t be sad about her death; there are other
things that could be worse
 Died
at a young age

“If I die young…”

The book makes it seem like Addie is about 46
(not super young, but not a full life either)
 Would
not want people to cry about her
death

“Gather up your tears…”

“I would look forward to the times when they
faulted, so I could whip them.”

Does not show normal emotions; wouldn’t want others
to waste time and energy on mourning
 Was
ready to die

“Well, I’ve had just enough time”

“He had a word, too. Love, he called it. But I had
been used to words for a long time. I knew that
that word was like those others: just a shape to
fill a lack that when the right time came, you
wouldn't need a word for that anymore than for
pride or fear.”

"The reason for living was to get ready to stay
dead for a long time"
Image of The Band Perry
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4104/5114488006_6094e7d977_o.jpg
Song lyrics
http://www.metrolyrics.com/if-i-die-young-lyrics-the-bandperry.html
Definition of simile
http://www.merriam-webster.com
(Other definitions from textbook)