Ms. Melville
English
12/18/08
Poetry Analysis Essay
Even though Waterfalls by TLC is a R&B song, it has more than a lyrical meaning. The song does have some poetic devices. TLC was a popular R&B group during 90's. their popular catchy songs and beats had millions of listeners. Waterfalls is a good song because it includes clear images, good sound, and it can change your perspective.
First TLC attracts there listeners with things that make the song sound good. They use rhyme. "A lonely mother gazing out of the window staring at a son that she just can't touch. If at anytime he's in a jam she'll be by his side, but he doesn't realize he hurts her so much." The boy is in a lot of drug and gang related activities. The mother tries to warn him about that, but ignores her warning and ends up dead. They use several other examples of rhyme. "You say because my life is ten shades of grey, I prey all ten fade away, Seldom praise him for sunny days. This meant that your life will have its ups and downs but all you can do is hope for better days. also when you do have good days you don't appreciate them until they are gone. That's how they made the song sound good.
TLC imagery to make people more attracted to it. A example is "Another body laying cold in the gutter." That gave me the image that violence is a big issue so that it's not hard to be a victim so be careful of the decisions. Another example is " He goes and takes a glimpse in the mirror and doesn't recognize his own face. His health is fading and he doesn't know why, three letters took him to his final resting place. That quote was telling you about a guy who had a partner who he usually uses a condom with, but since he thinks he can trust her he decides not to use one. What he didn't know that his partner has multiple partners and she has HIV. Those times they decided not to use a condom he ends up catching the disease. His partner didn't even tell him that she had and in the end they both died from it because he was unaware and she was untreated. That gives the image of him slowing dying.
The song can also change perspectives. The chorus is the most effective on changed perspectives. It says "Don't go chasing waterfalls please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to."
