Constructing Love, Loss, and Hope through Figurative Language: A Discourse Analysis of Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga's Die With A Smile
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Abstract
Song lyrics represent a unique form of discourse through which figurative language conveys emotional, cultural, and symbolic meanings beyond literal interpretation. Die With A Smile by Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga has attracted considerable public attention due to its emotionally expressive lyrics that portray themes of love, loss, and hope. This study aims to examine how figurative language constructs these meanings through a discourse analysis of the song lyrics. Employing a qualitative descriptive design, the research uses the official lyrics of Die With A Smile as the primary data source, supported by relevant literature on discourse analysis and figurative language. Data were collected through close reading, lyric documentation, and textual identification, and were analyzed using thematic interpretation within a discourse analytical framework. The findings reveal that metaphor is the most dominant figurative language, accounting for 50% of the identified expressions, followed by hyperbole (25%), personification (12.5%), and simile (12.5%). These figurative expressions function collectively to portray unwavering love, emotional commitment, the awareness of mortality, and hope in the face of uncertainty. Rather than serving merely as stylistic ornamentation, figurative language constructs a coherent emotional discourse that encourages listeners to appreciate meaningful relationships and the fragility of life. This study contributes to discourse analysis by demonstrating how figurative language operates as a meaning-making resource in contemporary popular music and offers pedagogical implications for the teaching of discourse analysis, figurative language, and literary interpretation in English language education..
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