Lesson 1 of IT Home Learning - Figurative Language

Lyrics to All Fall Down by One Republic:

Step out the door and it feels like rain
That's the sound (that's the sound) on your windowpane
Take to the streets but you can't ignore
That's the sound (that's the sound) you're waiting for

If ever your world starts crashing down
Whenever your world starts crashing down
Whenever your world starts crashing down
That's where you'll find me. (Yeah)

God love your soul and your aching bones
Take a breath, take a step, meet me down below
Everyone's the same, our fingers to our toes
We just can't get a right, but we're on the road

If ever your world starts crashing down
Whenever your world starts crashing down
Whenever your world starts crashing down
That's where you'll find me. (Yeah)

Lost 'til you're found
Swim 'til you drown
Know that we all fall down
Love 'til you hate
Strong 'til you break
Know that we all fall down

If ever your world starts crashing down
Whenever your world starts crashing down
Whenever your world starts crashing down
That's where you'll find (find) me

Lost 'til you're found
Swim 'til you drown
Know that we all fall down
Love 'til you hate
Strong 'til you break
Know that we all fall down

All fall down (x6)

Lost 'til you're found
Swim 'til you drown
Know that we all fall down
Love 'til you hate
Strong 'til you break
Know that we all fall down

1. There are several uses of figurative language in this song. For hyperbole, there is the phrase ‘all fall down’ which is repeated many times in the song especially the second last stanza (or bridge [or whatever it’s called]). It exaggerates the singer’s emotion that he is very sad that all people must eventually ‘fall down’.

There is personification in the song. This comes when the singer sings ‘… and your aching bones’. Bones are inanimate objects but humans can feel achy, so that means he is using personification.

As for metaphors, there is this part of the song:

“Lost 'til you're found
Swim 'til you drown
Know that we all fall down
Love 'til you hate
Strong 'til you break
Know that we all fall down”

This is linking falling down, which is not directly related to drowning or breaking or hating or being found, and linking it to these terms. From there, we can infer that falling down, is like failing to do something as there is always an end to things.

Next, there is simile. Unfortunately, I am not able to find any similes in this song so I am very sorry.

Lastly, there is the symbol. A symbol used in this song is the world crashing down. This symbolizes the singer’s sadness that people’s lives will all eventually fall apart.

2. I like this song because of its good use of instruments (the cello and guitar are utilized fully) to create the sombre atmosphere which the singer is in. The guitar and the cello are used to fill in gaps in the song and join the parts cohesively. The lyrics are also very meaningful as it teaches us that everyone has a down point in life but we must struggle to carry on with our lives. This tells us to persevere no matter what happens and to never give up as we will eventually find a way out of any dilemma that we might encounter in our lives.

References:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygoLat5y_4Q
One Republic’s album Dreaming Out Loud