CHAPTER IV
RESEARCH FINDING AND DISCUSSION
This chapter presents the result of research from the researcher. It involves
the figurative language of the lyrics of Westlife songs, the meaning of figurative
language of the lyrics of Westlife songs, the theme carried by the poems, and the
messages of poems.
A. Research Finding
1. The Figurative Language Types in the Lyrics of Westlife Selected Songs
a. The lyrics of Westlife’s selected songs
1. Soledad
If only you could see the tears in the world you left behind
If only you could heal my heart just one more time
Even when I close my eyes
There’s an image of your face
And once again I come I’ll relise
You’re a loss I can’t replace
Soledad
It’s a keeping for the lonely
Since the day that you were gone
Why did you leave me
Soledad
30
31
In my heart you were the only
And your memory live on
Why did you leave me
Soledad
Walking down the streets of nothing Ville
Where our love was young and free
Can’t believe just what an empty place
It has come to be
I would give my life away
If it could only be the same
Cause I can’t still the voice inside of me
That is calling out your name
Soledad
It’s a keeping for the lonely
Since the day that you were gone
Why did you leave me
Soledad
In my heart you were the only
And your memory live on
Why did you leave me
Soledad
32
Time will never change the things you tols me
After all we’re meant to be love will bring us back to you and me
If only you could see
Soledad
It’s a keeping for the lonely
Since the day that you were gone
Why did you leave me
Soledad
In my heart you were the only
And your memory live on
Why did you leave me
Soled
2. You Raise Me Up
When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up… To more than I can be.
[Instrumental break]
33
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up… To more than I can be.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up… To more than I can be.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up… To more than I can be.
You raise me up… To more than I can be.
3. Fragile Heart
A fragile heart, was broken before
I don’t think it could endure
Another pain
But there’s a voice from deep inside Of you
That’s calling out to make you realize
That this new bond gives inspiration
To all who feel no love appeal no more
So how can I break this wall around you
That’s aiding both our hearts to grow in pain
34
So forget your past, and we can
Dream tomorrow save our hearts for care and
Loving too
it’s hard I know, but oh one thing’s
for sure
don’t go and break this fragile heart
A hurting mind in need of emotion
I don’t think it could endure
another pain
But baby in you, I’ve found affection
Affection I have never felt before
So don’t let your past
Destroy what comes tomorrow
Don’t go and break this fragile heart
With all this fire that burns
between us
There’s so much to lose, yet so much
More to gain
And if I could choose the world
Around me
The world I choose, would all
Revolve around you
So help me complete the game
35
Inside me
And help to mend my fragile heart
4. Nothing’s Going To Change My Love For You
Nicky:
If I had to live my life without you near me
Days would all be empty
And nights would seem so long
With you I see forever wrote so clearly
Might have been in love before
But never felt this strong
Shane:
My dreams are young we both know
To take us to where we want to go
Hold me now, touch me now
I don’t want to live without you
Mark lead + all:
Nothing’s going to change my love for you
You already know by now how much I love you
One thing you can be sure of, I’ll never ask for more than your love
Nothing’s going to change my love for you
You already know by now how much I love you
The one that changed my whole life through
But nothing’s going to change my love for you
36
Kian:
If the road ahead is not so easy
Love will lead the way for once
Like a guiding star
I’ll be there for you if you should need me
You don’t have to change a thing
But be just the way you are
Shane:
Come with me and share the view
I’ll help you see forever too
Hold me now, touch me now
I don’t want to live without you
Mark lead + all:
Nothing’s going to change my love for you
You already know by now how much I love you
One thing you can be sure of, I’ll never ask for more than your love
Nothing’s going to change my love for you
You already know by now how much I love you
The one that changed my whole life through
But nothing’s going to change my love for you
Nothing’s going to change my love for you
You already know by now how much I love you
37
The one that changed my whole life through
But nothing’s going to change my love for you
All + (Mark):
Nothing’s going to change my love for you (yeah…)
You already know by now how much I love you (I love you)
One thing you can be sure of, I’ll never ask for more than your love (your
love)
Nothing’s going to change my love for you (nothing’s going to change)
You already know by now how much I love you
The one that changed my whole life through
But nothing’s going to change my love for you (change my love for you)
Nothing’s going to change my love for you (yeah…yeah)
You already know by now how much I love you
One thing you can be sure of, I’ll never ask for more than your love (your
love…)
Nothing’s going to change my love for you
You already know by now how much I love you
5. I’m Already There
He called her on the road
From a lonely cold hotel room
Just to hear her say I love you one more time
But when he heard the sound
Of the kids laughing in the background
38
He had to wipe away a tear from his eye
A little voice came on the phone
Said daddy when you coming home
He said the first thing that came to his mind
Im already there
Take a look around
Im the sunshine in your hair
Im the shadow on the ground
Im the whisper in the wind
Im your imaginary friend
And I know Im in your prayers
Oh Im already there
She got back on the phone
Said I really miss you darling
Dont worry about the kids theyll be alright
Wish I was in your arms
Lying right there beside you
But I know that Ill be in your dreams tonight
And Ill gently kiss your lips
Touch you with my fingertips
So turn out the light and close your eyes
Im already there
Dont make a sound
39
Im the beat in your heart
Im the moonlight shining down
Im the whisper in the wind
And I’ll be there until the end
Can you feel the love that we share
Oh Im already there
We may be a thousand miles apart
But I’ll be with you wherever you are
Im already there
Take a look around
Im the sunshine in your hair
Im the shadow on the ground
Im the whisper in the wind
And Ill be there until the end
Can you feel the love that we share
Oh Im already there
Oh Im already
There
6. Now and Forever
Whenever I’m weary
From the battles that rage in my head
You make sense of madness
When my sanity hangs by a thread
40
I lose my way
But still you seem to understand
Now and forever
I will be your man
Sometimes I just hold you
To caught up in the inner scene
I’m holding a fortune
That heaven has given to me
I’ll try to show you
Each and every way I can
Now and forever
I will be your man
Now I can rest my worries
And always be sure
That I won’t be alone anymore
If I’d only known you were there all the time
All this time
Until the day the ocean doesn’t touch the sand
Now and forever
I will be your man
Now and forever
I will be your man
41
7. I Do
Tell me can you feel my heart beat’
Tell me as I kneel down at your feet
I knew there would come a time
When these two hearts would entwine
Just put your hand in mine forever
For so long I have been an island
When no one could ever reach these shores
And we’ve got a whole lifetime to share
And I’ll always be there, darling, this I swear
So please believe me for these words I say are true
And don’t deny me a lifetime loving you
If you ask, will I be true’ Do I give my all to you’
Then I will say I do
I’m ready to begin this journey
Well, I’m with you with every step you take
And we’ve got a whole lifetime to share
And I’ll always be there, darling, this I swear
So please believe me for these words I say are true
And don’t deny me a lifetime loving you
If you ask, will I be true’ Do I give my all to you’
Then I will say I do
42
So come on, just take my hand
Oh, come on, let’s make a stand for our love
But I know this is so hard I believe, so please
So please believe me for these words I say are true
And don’t deny me a lifetime loving you
And if you ask, will I be true’ And do I give my all to you’
If you ask, if I’ll be true’ Do I give my all to you’
Then I will say I do
b. The Explanation of Figurative Language Types in lyrics of Westlife’s
Selected Songs.
a. Hyperbole.
A great exaggeration used to emphasize a point, and is used for
expressive or comic effect. A hyperbole is not to be taken literally.
Example:
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away." We know that eating an apple every
day will not keep you from ever getting sick and having to go to the doctor.
Some lyrics are included in Hyperbole, such as;
1. Soledad
a. The tears in the world you left behind.
-
This lyrics means that the singer got sadness from Soledad.
b. I would give my live away
-
This lyric tells us that the singer’s life will give to Soledad.
43
c. In my heart you were the only
-
This lyric tries to give an expression that only Soledad in the
singer’s heart.
2. You raise me up
a. When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary.
-
This lyrics try to invite the listener about bad condition that
really hard.
b. You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains.
-
This expression that tell us about someone/singer that get
support/motivation/spirit to face their problems. Mountain
here is a symbol of high level that climbed difficulty.
c. You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas.
-
We know that stormy seas are a condition in seas that really
bad to passed by sailor that it is dangerous. So, this lyric
gives expression that they / singer can face the next troubles
as well as possible.
d. You raise me up, to more than I can be.
-
We know that human have limit to do something but here,
the singer want to face or get the limit as they can.
3. Fragile Heart
a. So how can I break this wall around you
-
This expression about the singer’s weary to more close with
someone.
44
b. But there’s a voice from deep inside Of you
-
We know that human’s ears only can listen definitely, but
this lyric gives imagination that we are listen a voice from
human inside.
c. That’s calling out to make you realize
-
It means that a voice from human inside makes someone to
be realized and it is only imagination.
4. Nothing’s going to change my love for you.
a. If I had to live my life without you near me
-
It means that the singer do not want to separate with their
love.
b. Night would seem to long
-
This lyric give expression that every night without special
one beside them will be long time.
c. But never felt this strong
-
This expression tell about their story in the past when still
beside their love, the singer got a strong.
d. I don’t want to live without you
-
This lyric tries to express that the singer really want to live
with their love.
e. Nothing’s going to change my love for you
-
The singer wants to tell us that their love never changes
forever.
45
f. You already know by now how much I love you?
-
This question had known before that the singer really loves
and as emphasize that do not sure with the singer’s love.If
the road ahead is not so easy
g. If the road ahead is not so easy
-
This lyric express that sometime in the future will get many
troubles which have to face.
5. I’m already there
a. I really miss you darling
-
We can imagine that the singer miss their love so much,
because they never meet long time.
b. And I’ll be there until the end
-
This lyric express that there is someone still wait a long time
in a place.
c. We may be a thousand miles apart
-
This describe that the special someone with the singer there
is distance that part company with others.
d. But I’ll be with you wherever you are
-
This lyric express that the singer always beside the girl
wherever his is.
6. Now and Forever
a. Now and forever
46
- It means that his hope he will together with the girl till the
end.
b. I will be your man
- It means that the singer will be the girl boyfriend.
c. I’m holding a fortune
- It means that the singer is happy and stays up.
d. That heaven has given to me
- It means that the singer is very happy as like in the heaven.
e. Now I can rest my worries
- It is mean that don’t worry about anything.
7. I Do
a. Just put your hand in mine forever
- It means that the boy ask the girl to receive him and live
together with him.
b. And don’t deny me a lifetime loving you
- It means that he doesn’t want to deny by the girl.
c. If you ask, will I be true’ Do I give my all to you’
- It means that the girl wishes will do by the boy and he will
give everything to her.
b. Personification
One of the most familiar kinds of comparison is personification---that
is, speaking of something that is not human as if it had human abilities and
human reactions. Example:
47
When Keats describes autumn as a harvester “sitting careless on a granary
floor” or “on a half-reaped furrow sound asleep,” he is personifying a season.
Also, in the Dickinson poem mentioned earlier, Dickinson describes frost as a
“blond assassin.” As a result, she is personifying frost.
My November Guest: the guest is sorrow, personified as a woman dearly loved
who walks with him. Tree at my window: the tree watches him sleep; it has
tongues talking aloud.
Some lyrics included in Personification are:
1. Soledad
a. Your memory live on
- This lyric has two figures which are personification and
pleonasm. We know “live” word usually used by human,
but the using “live” here, to express the memory that singer
got.
b. Where our love was young and free
- The singer wants to express that they got love not too long.
c. Love will brings us back to you and me
- This lyric try to imagine that love able to make more closed
and the using ‘bring’ word in this lyric usually used by
human.
2. Fragile Heart
a. I don’t think it could endure
48
- The words “it” is from heart and the word “endure” is an
activity that doing by the human, so the conclusion is the
lyric included in personification.
3. Nothing’s going to change my live for you
a. My dreams are young we both know
- Young here, usually used by human. But this lyric uses that
word to express the singer’s dreams or still realize them.
c. Symbol
A thing (could be an object, person, situation, or action) which is stand for
something else more abstract. Example:
Early in Frost’s poetry, flower becomes a symbol for the beloved, his wife
Elinor.
Some lyrics included in Symbol are:
1. Fragile Heart
a. A fragile heart
- It is describe about someone which have heavy troubles.
2. I’m ready there
a. He said the first thing that came to his mind
- This lyric tray to give imagination that the singer wants to be
inside in girl’s mind or always beside her.
3. I Do
a. For so long I have been an island.
- It to show what he feels in waiting time of the girl’s answer
49
d. Synecdoche
A figure of speech which is mentions a part of something to suggest the
whole. Example:
Shakespeare uses synecdoche when he says that the cuckoo’s song is
unpleasing to a “married ear,” for he really means a married man.
Some lyrics included in Synecdoche are:
1. You raise me up
a. When troubles come and my heart burdened be.
- We know that heart is a part of body and the singer get
burden not only their heart but also all body feel it.
2. I Do
a. Just put your hand in mine forever
- It means that not only the hand but also herself and “hand”
as received symbol for the girl.
e. Litotes
Figure of speech which is used to shrink the reality for the purpose of
humbling. Example: Come into my shack (Though large and luxurious house).
Some lyrics included in Litotes are:
1. I’m ready there
a. Just to hear her say I love you one more time
- Actually, the boy not only wants to hear one more time but
also every time he can hear it.
50
f. Parallelism
Looping figure of speech as well as repetition, arranged in different rows.
Example: This Heart blue Heart The heart of this song is dust.
Some lyrics included in Parallelism are:
1. Soledad
a. If only you could see
b. If only you could heal
- This figure usually use in words repetition that have
meaning as emphasize to Soledad.
2. I’m ready there
a. I’m the sunshine in your hair
b. I’m the shadow on the ground
c. I’m the whisper in the wind
- The lyrics express that the singer imagination as though
they are more close / beside her. In other hand, the lyrics
try to imagine a thing which is stand for something else
more abstract.
g. Para rhyme
Repetition of initial and final consonant in the word or parts of different
words.
The lyrics included in Para rhyme are:
1. I Do
a. Tell me can you feel my heart beat’
51
b. Tell me as I kneel down at your feet
- It is show that whatever she does is interesting and
attractive activity.
h. Repetition
Looping figure of speech the word - the word for emphasis. Example: my
boyfriend Goodbye, goodbye my lover.
Some lyrics included in Repetition are;
1. I Do
a. Tell me can you feel my heart beat’
b. Tell me as I kneel down at your feet
- It is to affirm that anything her said or do is interesting for
him.
c. If you ask, if I’ll be true’ Do I give my all to you’
- It to affirm about everything the girl want he will give to
her.
i. Tautology
Figure of speech that describes something using the word - the word the
same meaning (synonyms) to reinforce the meaning. Example: I worried and
was - was with him.
Some lyrics included in Tautology are:
1. Fragile Heart
a. A fragile heart was, was broken before
52
- It means that those words are repetition on the similar
words (fragile and broken) as emphasize.
2. Now and Forever
a. Each and every way I can
- Those words have same meaning that show to affirm
whatever the way can pass it.
j. Paradox
A statement or situation containing apparently contradictory incompatible
elements, but not closer inspection may be true.
Example:
Ghost house: I’d well in a house that vanished.
The lyrics included in Paradox are:
1. Fragile Hear
a. Don’t go and break this fragile heart
- This lyric is talking about heart that was fragile will break
anymore when someone will go. Here, not only heart will
get trouble but also all part of body.
2. The General Meaning of Lyrics in the Westlife’s selected Songs.
a. Soledad
This lyric described about someone special who was gone, her
name is Soledad. She left sadness in the boy’s world. He feels that only
she could see the tears in the world that she left behind and only she could
53
heal his heart. The boy hopes they can be together again. Just in his mind
everything about her will be immutable and only her who stay in his heart.
Whatever he felt he still hopes Soledad comeback to him.
b. You Raise Me Up
As we know this song is made for all tsunami victims in Aceh in
2006 ago. All of world grieving at the disaster and Westlife are too. This
song present the westlife cares and support to them, to make them did not
to give up because the incident.
This song describe about that victims that so straw because the
disaster. They were down and so weary, they get troubles and their heart
burdened is. While they can do anything just stay and silent, may they do
not know what should they know, till the help come. While the help come
they raise them to be strongest than before, face the problem, and do more
things than they can do.
c. Fragile Heart
Tells about the feelings / heart that has been fragile since parting
with her lover. He wants to eliminate the barrier of their love, but these
efforts still cannot be done, but the presence of the baby able to evoke the
spirit and improve their relationship.
d. Nothing’s Going To Change My Love For You
Telling the earnestness of a man who was so faithful to their
partners until the days were lonely without him and the nights seem so
54
long. He wanted to stay beside her until whenever, because while beside
him was so strong and ready for facing all the problems that face.
e. I’m Already There
Tells of a father who was away from his family, and that's when his
son called and wished her father could come home. The situation is made
the father so missed and worried but from phone calls to convince his wife
that their child is in good condition.
f. It’s You
Tells of a lover who is always accompanied wherever and
whenever with the beautiful days. As if he was an angel who gives
happiness in life.
g. Now and Forever
This song tell about someone who feels tired, and as if his soul
hung on a rope or he loses his way of life but there is still someone who
understands and faithful to her. All forms of attention given to the male
lover are trying to keep it up any time until the man says "I'll be your
man".
h. Like A Rose
An angel sent from God to his love to hold and idolize. The angel
Make him to strength, as Lighten off his load, give him a room to grow,
and give the water so he can breathe. It can be said that love alive and give
him strength.
55
i. As Love Is My Witness
Tells about this song a testament of love, about the promise of
one's lover. Will he be with her till the end, nothing to tear this love apart,
he'll put his hand upon his heart, this is t he promise That Will make to
her. Whatever comes, we will see it through, and nothing can break it.
Sorrow and Heartache will not be able to separate them, but it will all be
much closer to us.
j. I Do
Lyric of this song tell about someone who is promise to his girl
That Will he do anything as like the girl's ask. Those will be true if the girl
wants to be boy's couple and the boy wants to be believed that for all his
says.
3. The Messages of Lyrics on the Westlife’s Selected Song
a. Soledad
Separation is not everything, because the separation we'll find out how
much compassion we are with a partner. Although there is separation, the
memories of togetherness with people we love will remain memorable.
b. You Raise Me Up
The singer gives the message that when we get a problem that is so heavy,
that's when people close to us (friend or lover) will give spirit to resolve
and deal with all problems.
56
c. Fragile Heart
Keep the feeling of affection and love with our spouses, even in very
severe and painful, we must keep fighting and keep fighting.
d. Nothing’s Going To Change My Love For You
Sincerity and conviction would love to give so much power on the human
to face such a severe problem, although one day be abandoned by loved
ones.
e. I’m Already There
Attention in a family is very important and a father who was a leader of the
family can keep the family together with a fair share of affection, attention
and work activities.
f. It’s You
A good lover will be willing to accompany their partner in a state of good
and bad or in any condition.
g. Now and Forever
Don’t wasted sacrifice of someone who is so sincere to you and respect
him because he alone would give you with sincerity.
h. Like A Rose
Treat the love that you get with sincerity because the love of life will give
you a stronger and more colorful.
57
i. As Love Is My Witness
To demonstrate the feeling we have on the couple, we must show sincerity
about the feelings of the evidence not only requires proving the promise
because the promise.
j. I Do
Promised in a relationship with a partner it is okay and more convincing
your spouse will sense seriousness but that promise must still be met
because the relationship is based on the mutual trust and maintain.
58
B. Discussion
Based on research finding, the writer found some figurative languages in
the Westlife’s selected songs. According Zainuddin (1992: 51), explains that
figurative language is the use of variety of language that represents or describe
something by choosing and arranging of the words in the sentence to obtain a
certain effect. We can know that most of figurative language which used in lyrics
of Westlife’s selected songs is “Hyperbole” that has a great exaggeration used to
emphasize a point, and is used for expressive or comic effect. For example, in
lyric “I’m holding a fortune” and “That heaven has given to me” that give
impossible to do by human being but the using figure (hyperbole) to make the
lyric more interesting to listen. In determining the meaning we have to know what
to say of the authors. Pateda (2001: 81) explains that the meaning of language is
also a variety when viewed from different point of view. From the researcher
point of view, the meaning contained from the example above is that heaven has
given to me. In the semantic meaning of the above can be classified into the
connotative meaning.
Each lyric is written certainly does have a message directed to the
listener and the readers. The message is directed with the intention that they get
the impression after listening and reading the lyric. Based on the theory, “message
is things to be conveyed to the listener and the reader by the singer through his
songs”. So, the message contained in Westlife’s lyrics indirectly conveyed to the
listener and the reader through the lyrics they wrote. We can find the message of
the lyrics after we know the meaning contained.
59
The lyrics of Westlife’s selected songs try to tell us about human social
life which contained about love, sadness, happiness, spirit and others. In lyrics of
Westlife’s selected songs that contain figurative language is helpful in
understanding the song. The existence of figurative language is not to complicate
the understanding of lyrics but to simplify and to clear the understanding of lyrics.
Song is very suitable for the English Learner who wants to improve their English
skills in analyze lyrics that contain figurative language. From the explanation
above can be concluded that in analyze lyrics besides find figurative language in
lyrics, we can also understand the meaning of song that contain figurative
language, and message of the song.