ENG210 Advanced Composition

  Lyrics and YouTube video Stapleton, Chris. Nobody to Blame Lyrics. Google Docs , https://share.google/8DzqwX6UPWNMMuH8v . Accessed 17 Feb. 2026. Stapleton, Chris. Starting Over Lyrics. Google Docs , https://share.google/8DzqwX6UPWNMMuH8v . Accessed 17 Feb. 2026. Analytical discussion question Do the songs have similar or different themes/devices? Why do you think so? The main theme of nobody to blame is accountability. As the title says, he is taking the blame for his problems. Like he said in the song, “Nobody to blame but me.” He is talking about self-accountability. He says in the song, “I know right where I went wrong.” He is pinpointing a moment where he knew he messed up and where his problems started. He is emphasizing his guilt and his acknowledgment of his problems and how he got the problems. He uses imagery a little bit in the song by saying things like things are breaking, and there is Chaos. While he is talking about how all their problems are his fault, he does ...

                        Lyrics and Music video links: “Alright”: https://genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-alright-lyrics “The Blacker the berry”: https://genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-the-blacker-the-berry-lyrics Alright Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-48u_uWMHY&list=RDZ-48u_uWMHY&start_radio=1 The Blacker the berry Music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdPtVZDspIY Analytical Question: How is the use of the "first-person" perspective in "Alright" different from "The Blacker the Berry," and what does this say about Kendrick Lamar’s struggle with being a leader versus being a "hypocrite"? Answer: In "Alright," the use of "I" and "we" infers that a prophet or leader is leading his people through the fire, similar to Moses. When he says, "I can see the evil, I can tell it, I know it's illegal," he is saying that he is a guide who has seen and been in the dark...

Metallica                 Lyrics and Music video links: "Fade To Black" lyrics:  https://genius.com/Metallica-fade-to-black-lyrics "One" lyrics:  https://genius.com/Metallica-one-lyrics YouTube "One" Metallica "Fade To Black" Metallica Analytical discussion question How do “One” and “Fade to Black” portray psychological suffering differently? Do these portrayals raise awareness about PTSD and depression, or do they influence people into further despair? The song "Fade to Black" by Metallica is controversial in itself. I only say this because my mom believes that the lyrics would push a depressed person into more distress and cause further harm. The lyrics are very blatant, but even so, they leave room for interpretation. Suicide and depression are generally deemed as taboo topics, but Metallica breaks that boundary and creates a representation for those people who suffer through these exact lyrics every day. At the end of t...

The two songs I am analyzing are “The Man” and “Mad Woman” by Taylor Swift. Here are the lyrics and a video of Taylor Swift “The Man” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqAJLh9wuZ0 Here are the lyrics and a video of Taylor Swift “Mad Woman” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DP4q_1EgQQ Question: How does Taylor Swift use irony, tone shifts, and repetition in “Mad Woman” and “The Man” to challenge double standards about gender? Answer:      In “The Man”, Taylor Swift uses irony to show how the exact same behavior is judged differently based on gender. She explains that when she is confident or successful, people criticize her. However, if she were a man she would be seen as a “fearless leader” or an “alpha type” (The Man). She talks about how there is an unfair double standard when it comes to success. She says that if she were to “flash her dollars” (The Man) she would be a “b*tch, not a baller” (The Man). If a man was doing the same thing, instead of that he would be praise...

  The two songs I am evaluating are “Black Rage” and “Mystery of Iniquity.” For context, here are the lyrics and video of Lauryn Hill Singing Black Rage. And here are the lyrics to Mystery of Iniquity and a video of her singing the song.  Question: How does “Mystery of Iniquity” and “Black Rage” use symbolism to show the systemic and historical roots of African American anger?  The term “Black Rage” comes from the longevity of slavery, racism, corrupt legal systems, and any harmful events dedicated towards African Americans. In Mystery of Iniquity, Lauryn Hill sings "History of inequity" and the purpose is to tell viewers this type of injustice is nothing new, rather a long cycle of the same trauma being passed down through generations. Moving to the systemic roots, Lauryn Hill compares people in charge of the legal system as "Gladiators in blood thirsty arenas" (Mystery of Iniquity). It is as if they are competing against each other to see which defendant's l...

  System of a Down — Protest, Chaos, and Conscience The two songs I am going to explore by System of a Down are “Chop Suey!” and “B.Y.O.B.” For context, here is a video of System of a Down performing “Chop Suey!”: Here is video of System of a Down performing “B.Y.O.B.”: Analytical Question: How do the sudden tone shifts in “Chop Suey!” and “B.Y.O.B.” help communicate each song’s message about responsibility and social judgment, and why do both songs mix aggressive and melodic sections instead of staying emotionally consistent? Answer: When listening to “Chop Suey!” and “B.Y.O.B.”, one of the biggest similarities that stood out to me was how both songs switch tone very suddenly. In “Chop Suey!” the music jumps from loud and chaotic to slow and emotional. That contrast makes the song feel like an argument between outside judgment and inner vulnerability. Short lines like “Why’d you leave the keys upon the table?” feel almost accusatory ("Chop Suey!"), while the softer sung sect...

 Earth to Eve - Eve Weisberger The two songs I am analyzing by Earth to Eve are “NO KINGS” and “Have You Heard the News Today?”  Here are the lyrics and a video of Eve singing “NO KINGS.” Here are the lyrics and a video of Eve singing “Have You Heard the News Today?” Question :  What are the messages within "NO KINGS" and "Have You Heard the News Today?" and how are they connected to America's current political climate?  Answer :       In "NO KINGS" Earth to Eve indirectly talks about President Trump and how he is seen by his supporters. She uses language such as, "Down here there's laws That no man's above" followed by "No king, no God Not one of us You're all alone when the crown comes off When your kingdom's gone Watch it fall" to show how they view him and how she imagines the impact to be when he looses support ("NO KINGS"). When talking about laws that the average person must follow she is referring...

If you have ever stared out a car window at night pretending you were in a music video, Chris Stapleton already makes sense to you. Lyrics and Media Links Lyric Sources Stapleton, Chris. "Starting Over." Genius, https://genius.com/Chris-stapleton-starting-over-lyrics . Stapleton, Chris. "Traveller." Genius, https://genius.com/Chris-stapleton-traveller-lyrics .  YouTube Sources Stapleton, Chris. "Chris Stapleton - Starting Over." YouTube, uploaded by ChrisStapletonVEVO, 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3svABDnmio .  Stapleton, Chris. "Chris Stapleton - Traveller (Official Audio)." YouTube, uploaded by ChrisStapletonVEVO, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kBnFgLP8po .  Analytical Discussion Question How do Chris Stapleton’s songs “Starting Over” and “Traveller” use narrative voice, imagery, and repetition to make the simple idea of being on the road feel like a story about real-life choices, and why do these songs make listeners feel lik...