A Description of Figurative Language Found in Selected Lyrics of One Direction Song A Paper
A Description of Figurative Language Found in Selected Lyrics of One Direction Song A Paper
A Description of Figurative Language Found in Selected Lyrics of One Direction Song A Paper
A PAPER
WRITTEN
BY
MEDAN
2019
I am, JUNAN JEREMIA GINTING SUKA, declare that I am the sole author of this paper.
Except where reference are made in text of this paper, this paper contains no material
published else where or extracted in whole or in part from a paper by which I have qualified
for awarded another degree. No other person’s work has been used without due
acknowledgement in the main text of the paper. This paper has not been submitted for aware
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Department : English
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This paper is entitled A Description of Figurative Language found in Selected Lyrics of One
Direction Song discusses the types of figurative language that exist in the song lyrics of One
Direction’s. The purpose of this paper is to find out the types of the figurative language and
also to describe the meaning of each figurative language in One Direction’s song. In writing
this paper, the writer conducts a library research, collecting data from some book and
internet. The writer collects data figurative language from the lyrics of One Direction’s song,
select figurative language in the song lyrics, classify the figurative language then interpret the
figurative language. Based on the results of the description, the writer found 15 the use of
figurative language consisting 9 times of hyperbole, 3 times of metaphor, 2 times of
repetition and 1 time of simile. The results of the description also show that hyperbole and
metaphor are the most figurative type of language that appears in One Direction’s song lyrics.
First of all, I would like to thank and praise to the Almighty God, Jesus Christ for
giving me health, strength, and guidance to me so, that I can complete this paper as one of the
requirements to get degree of Diploma English at the Faculty of Cultural Studies, University
of Sumatera Utara.
Then, I give my second special love for both of myparentsAlm. Anton Ginting and
Junita br. Tariganfor the endless support, pray, loves, and advices.My special thanks are
Sinulingga. Thanks for support, advices, motivation, cares and other things to help me
complete my paper.
I am grateful to all of those with whom I have had the pleasure to work during this
Sumatra Utara
• Dra. Swesana Mardia Lubis, M.Hum., as the Head of Diploma III EnglishStudy
Program. Thank you for corrections and suggestions in completing this paper.
advice, and precious time in giving corrections and suggestions in completing this
paper.
• All Lectures in Diploma III English Study Program. Thank you for giving me
knowledge.
Hutabarat, Rosana Mei and Thesalonika Keliat. Thanks for all the time we spend
together doing our paper, all the jokes that light up my days, support, advices, and
motivations.
• Thank you for all my classmates in Diploma III English Study Programwho I
However, I realize this paper is still far from perfect, Then, I am waiting for any
constructive critics and suggestion. Finally, I hope this paper can be useful for everyone.
The Writer,
ABSTRAK ............................................................................................................................. iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................... v
vii1.INTRODUCTION
2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE
3. DATA DESCRIPTION
REFERENCES..................................................................................................................... 24
APPENDIX
INTRODUCTION
The symbols may be spoken, written, or signed with the hands. Siahaan (2008:1)
says, “Language is a unique human inheritance that plays the very important role
others.”
Linguistics has important roles to study language that include sounds, the
which hearers and readers relate new information to the information they already
have. Linguistics is essentially the study of how language mean, there are four
generally used by the poet to created some special effect and to make it more
imaginative. Moreover, figurative language is not used only in the poetry. This
ambiguously words. As Perrine said in his book “Literature: Structure, Sound, and
Sense” (1997:6), literature is kind of art, usually written, that offers pleasure and
illumination. Later on, most of lyrics use figurative and ambiguous languageto
affects the language beauty of work in both oral and written. It is a poet that
Song is the most common thing in people daily life, because song can give
positive and negative impacts to the hearer. In a song, we can find lyrics.
According to the free online dictionary lyric means an artistic form of auditory
continuous manner. It can be concluded that lyrics is one of literary works, which
complete and beautify the song and makes the hearer more interested in hearing it.
In this paper, the writer would like to analyzed the figurative meaning found in
One Direction’s selected song lyrics. So, this writing focus on the lyrics to find
found in song lyrics. Because the songwriter expresses his ideas and feelings
through the songs. The idea and feeling was beautified because the composer
composed of Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, and Louis Tomlinson.
Former member Zayn Malik departed from the group in 2015. One direction is a
record label Syco Records after forming and finishing third in the seventh series
international success by social media, One Direction's five albums, Up All Night
(2011), Take Me Home (2012), Midnight Memories (2013), Four (2014), and
Made in the A.M. (2015), topped charts in most major markets, and generated hit
singles including "What Makes You Beautiful", "Live While We're Young", "Best
Based on the background that has been explained, the problems of this study are:
2. What is the meaning of each figurative language found in One Direction’s lyric
song?
1. To find out the type of the figurative language in One Direction’s selected lyric
song.
The selected songs are: Drag Me Down,One Thing, What Makes You Beautiful,
process, and it gives additional knowledge to English students and the other
readers.
worthy contribution for all people who want to study English literature.
reading and studying some books and internet which are concerned with problems
3.Classify lyrics into figurative language types then interpret the figurative
languages
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
2.1 Semantic
Palmer (1976:1) says, “Semantics is technical term used refer to the study
meaning of its words and the structure. System for analyzing language divides
linguistics expression into two classes: literal meaning and non-literal meaning.
Uses in non-literal are called figurative expression. Literal meaning denotes the
people eye or ears receive a message, the mind must interpret the data to convert it
into meaning. This set of memories will give prominence to the most common or
literal meanings, but also suggest reasons for attributing different meanings.The
Work in semantic deal with the description of word and sentence meaning. There
more and more pressing. Katz (1972:1) also states that semantics is the study of
linguistic meaning. It is concerned with what sentence and other linguistics object
express, not with the arrangement with their syntactic parts or with their
pronunciation.
words, or else the standard order of words, in order to achieve some special
meaning or effect. Figures are sometimes described as primarily poetic, but they
There are so many types of figurative language such as: metaphor, simile,
narrowly definable as a way of saying one thing and meaning another. The readers
and writers properly utilize superior style to explain the ideas of the classical
rhetorical them. Means of classical rhetoric has been used by the Roman Cicero
and Suetonius novelist who wears figura in the sense of "shadows, images,
allusions, allegories”.
ialahpemakaianragambahasadalammewakiliataumelukiskansesuatudenganpemili
that figurative language usually uses beautiful words to get some certain effects
the way the author or writer express his thoughts and the inner feelings.
follows:
2.3.1 Hyperbole
mengungkapkansesuatudengancaramelebihlebihkandengantujuanuntukmenggera
For Example:
This statement is overstatement. This sentence explains that people had a ton of
homework. In fact, people have a lot of homework, but not one ton.
2.3.2 Metaphor
compares two things directly, but in a form that brief. Metaphor as direct
comparisons do not use the word: as, tubs, like, and so on, so that the first
principal directly connected with the principal second fact. Process the same as
simile but gradually equations and basic information about the first eliminated.
For Example:
stone.
metaphor is a bit similar to simile, a sentence which compares two things but
2.3.3 Personification
inanimate objects or goods that do not animate as if it has the properties of human
For Example:
In this sentence, there is word “the sun” which is inanimate do act like human is
2.3.4 Simile
things, indicates by the word or phrase such as like, as, than, similar, resemble or
two distinctly different things is explicitly indicated by the word "like" or "as".
For Example:
This example shows comparison between their fought with cat and dog. This
From the opinion and example above, it can be concluded that simile was
comparison that is explicit, between two things using conjunctive They are like, as
are used in such a way that their intended meaning is different from the actual
For Example:
The above example is irony, seeing that he has a hopeless future, but at
first he says using the soft word to ridicule. This explain what the subject
2.3.6 Imagery
yang dengansengajakitaanggapsama.
Perbandinganitusecaraeksplisitdijelaskandenganpemakaianseperti, sebagai,
ibarat, umpama, bak, laksana. It means that imagery is compare two things that in
For Example:
1. Sepertigajahmasukkampung.
This sentence means that someone has a power of doing something in his own
2.3.7 Paradox
the paradox is always that of the double superlative: the more mad it is, the more
wise it is; the maddest is the wisest. Paradox is defined by the infinite exchange,
For Example
In this sentence, there is conflicting values between the phrase. “save” and
“spending”. The contradiction of both phrases is often to make the person who
Based on some opinion and the example above, it can be concluded that
implications in the world of literature, because they make statements that often
words, in order to secure emphasis. This is such a common literary device that it
For Example:
scholarship.
Based on some opinion and the example above, it can be concluded that
Repetition is repeating of a word which among them are still related to each other.
2.3.9 Synecdoche
sinekdoseialahmengemukakanseluruhbendadengancaramenyebutkanbagian-
bagianatausebagian saja,
atausebaliknyamenyebutkankeseluruhandenganmaksudsebagian saja.
menyebutkannamabagianpenggantinamakeseluruhannya.
For Example :
team.
that synecdoche is a term for a part of something that refers to the whole of
something.
2.4 Song
rhythm or rhythmic sound. Written words made spesifically for music or for
which music spesifically made, are called lyric.. A song may be for a solo singer,
the act or art is called singing. Songs may also appear in plays, musical plays,
Song is the common thing in people daily activity because song can give
various impact to the hearer because song has a meaning in each sentences.
According to Oxford Dictiory (03 ed) song is short piece of music with words that
you sing. Songs can be categorized in many genres such as : pop, rock, jazz, latin,
DATA DESCRIPTION
3.1.1 Hyperbole
hyperbole because there are sentence that exaggerates something, like it might
In the song “More Than This”, “Perfect” and “What Makes You
found each one hyperbole,in the song “One Thing” and “Drag Me Down”
(1) You keep making me weak. Yeah frozen and can’t breathe (One Thing – 7th
(2) That I am going out of my mind all day and all night (One Thing – 20th and
21stline)
(3) Cause I am dying just to know your name (One Thing – 23rd line)
(4) With your love nobody can drag me down (Drag Me Down – 16th line)
(5) The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed (What Makes You
(8) All my life you stood by me (Drag Me Down – 17th and 18th line)
(9) If I didn’t have you, I’d never see the sun (Drag Me Down – 14th line)
3.1.2 Metaphor
between two things that are basically dissimilar. In other words, it describes one
In the song entitle “One Thing, “Perfect” and “Drag Me Down” has been
(2) I might never be your knight in shining armor (Perfect - 1st line)
(3) I'm not scared of the dark (Drag Me Down – 2nd line)
3.1.3 Repetition
emphasis.
In the song entitle ‟One Thing” has been found two repetitions. They are:
(1) So get out, get out, get out of my head (One Thing – 13rd line)
(2) I don’t, I don’t, don’t know what it is (One Thing – 15th line)
In the song entitle “What Makes You Beautiful” has been foundone
(1) Baby you light up my world like nobody else (What Makes You Beautiful –
8th line)
is humans who frozen like ice. This is excessive. It can be shown in the following
lyrics:
Yeah frozen and can’t breathe(One Thing – 7th and 8th line)
people goingout of mind because of love, only during all day and all night. That is
All day and all night (One Thing – 20th and 21st) line)
dyingjust to find out the name of the person we love. It is too exaggerated. It can
4. This lyric shows figurative language of hyperbole, itcan see fromthe word
“drag”. Because, the word "drag" is usually used to pull something with a rope.So
the word "drag" is excessive when used for people. It can be shown in the
following lyric:
With your love nobody can drag me down(Drag Me Down – 16th line)
The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed (What Makes You
6.This piece of lyric is hyperbole, we can see from the word “baby”. Because it's
too much to exaggerate someone thinks his girlfriend is like a baby. Because the
baby still needs to be cared for and maintained wherever she is, while his
7.This lyric shows figurative language of hyperbole. It's impossible for someone
to be blind and did not see anything, except his girlfriend. This is clearly that
I’m blinded cause you are everything I see(More Than This – 2nd line)
8. This lyric shows figurative language of hyperbole. The use of the word "all" in
the lyrics is excessive, because it describes that someone life can be counted. It
All my life
does not have boyfriend/girlfriend so he/she can’t see the sun. But because of the
distance that is far and dazzling. It can be shown in the following lyric:
If I didn’t have you, I’d never see the sun. (Drag Me Down – 14th line)
3.2.2Meaning of Metaphor
‘kryptonite’ does not literally mean that is a fictional material that appears
primarily in Superman stories. The word ‘kryptonite’ refers to someone who make
songwriter weak, even if he/she is very strong person. It can be shown in the
following lyric:
word ‘Knight’does not literally mean like a knight in shining armor in a movie.
word ‘dark’ does not literally mean that is a condition of place/area because there
is no light. It means songwriter feel there is no worry about what will happen out
there. He/she is not afraid to take risks that might hurt. It can be shown in the
following lyric:
involves repetition of same phrases in the middle of lyric. In the lyric, use the
repetition of the phrase "get out", to emphasize that something in songwriter head
So get out, get out, get out of my head (One Thing – 13rd line)
involves repetition of same phrases in the beginning of lyric. In the lyrics use the
repetition of phrase "I don't.", to emphasize that he/she doesn't know what that
1. This lyric shows figurative language of simile.Because in this lyric, using word
can light up his life, while other people cannot light up his life as his
Baby, you light up my world like nobody else(What Makes You Beautiful
– 8th line)
4.1 Conclusion
After describing the data from One Direction's song lyrics, it can be
concluded that, it was found that there are 15 elements of figurative language in
counterfactual expression, while the type of repetition and simile mostly found
after it.
4.2 Suggestion
The writer would like to suggest that the English students should analyze
figurative language in songs because the writer thinks that figurative language is
words have other meanings from the literal one. That is why the writer thinks it is
very important for the English Diploma students who study more about figurative
Alan, Evision. 2003. Oxford Learner’s Pocket Dictionary New York (03 ed):
Abrams M.H. 1999. A Glossary of Literary Term (07 ed). United States of
literature-basedon-expert.html
Direction, One. One Direction’s lyrics. Retrieved May 25, 2019, from
http://www.metrolyrics.com/search.html?search=One+direction
Refika.
fromhttp://fiar77119.blogspot.sg/2015/11/figurative-languages.html
fromhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Direction
fromhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradox_(literature)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repetition_(rhetorical_device)
After the release of Four, One Direction became the first band in the US
Billboard 200 history to have their first four albums debut at number one. Their
third album, Midnight Memories, was the best-selling album worldwide in 2013
with 4 million copies sold globally. The band's Where We Are Tour, in support of
Midnight Memories and Four, was the highest-grossing concert tour in 2014, the
highest-grossing tour by a vocal group in history, and the 20th highest-grossing
“Drag Me Down”
All my life
You stood by me
When no one else was ever behind me
All these lights
They can't blind me
With your love, nobody can drag me down
All my life
You stood by me
When no one else was ever behind me
All these lights
They can't blind me
With your love, nobody can drag me down
Nobody, nobody
Nobody can drag me down
Nobody, nobody
Nobody can drag me down
All my life
You stood by me
When no one else was ever behind me
All these lights
They can't blind me
With your love nobody can drag me down
Nobody, nobody
Nobody can drag me down
Nobody, nobody
Nobody can drag me
All my life
You stood by me
When no one else was ever behind me
All these lights
They can't blind me
With your love, nobody can drag me down
All my life
You stood by me
When no one else was ever behind me
All these lights
They can't blind me
With your love, nobody can drag me down
Nobody, nobody
Nobody can drag me down
Nobody, nobody
Nobody can drag me down
Nobody, nobody
Nobody can drag me down
Nobody, nobody
Nobody can drag me down
You're insecure
Don't know what for
You're turning heads when you walk through the door
Don't need make-up, to cover up
Being the way that you are is enough
“Perfect”