Zulfatun Maghfiroh Kharis 17112210050 (Thesis)

THESIS
THE ANALYSIS OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE IN ED SHEERAN

SELECTED SONG LYRICS
BY
ZULFATUN MAGHFIROH KHARIS
NIM.17112210050
ENGLISH EDUCATION DEPARTEMENT
FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND TEACHER TRAINING
ISLAMIC INSTITUTE OF DARUSSALAM
BLOKAGUNG BANYUWANGI
2021
THESIS

BY
NIM.17112210050
2021
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THESIS
Presented to the faculty of Education and Teacher Training in a Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirement for the Degree of Strata 1 in English Education Department
BY
NIM.17112210050
2021
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MOTTO
Fearless is getting back up and fighting for what
you want over and over again…even though every
time you’ve tried before you’ve lost
(Taylor Swift)
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ABSTRACT
Kharis, Zulfatun Maghfiroh. 2021. The analysis of Figurative Language in

Ed Sheeran Selected Song Lyrics.
Key Word: figurative language, Ed Sheeran selected song lyrics
Figurative language is the language used to express one's thoughts, feelings,

imagination or messages in a work, which is conveyed through a different
language from the original literature with the aim of making the work more
beautiful and more interesting. Usually style is used in poetry and song lyrics.
Likewise in the lyrics of Ed Sheeran's song which contains several styles of
language and contains an indirect message. The purpose of the study was to
determine the types of language style and the most dominant style of language
used in several selected songs by Ed Sheeran, namely the song Thinking Out
Loud, Perfect, and Photograph. According to Perrine, the various styles of
language include metaphor, simile, personification, synecdoche, metonymy,
symbol, hyperbole, and paradox. This study uses a qualitative descriptive research
method where the researcher tries to find out the type of language style used and
the most dominant in Ed Sheeran's songs. The data source is all the lyrics of
Thinking Out Loud, Perfect, and Photograph. From the results of data analysis,
the researcher concludes that in the song Thinking Out Loud there are 5 types of
figurative language, namely: simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole and
synecdoche. In the song Perfect, there are 4 types of figurative language, namely:
metaphor, hyperbole, paradox, and simile. While in the song Photograph, there are
3 types of figurative language, namely: personification, metaphor and synecdoche.
These findings indicate that the most dominant language style used in the three
songs is metaphor. From the conclusion of this research, the writer suggests that
in order to increase students' knowledge about language style, readers should
apply language style analysis or type of language style analysis.
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ABSTRAK
Kharis, Zulfatun Maghfiroh. 2021. The analysis of Figurative Language in

Ed Sheeran Selected Song Lyrics.
Key Word: figurative language, Ed Sheeran selected song lyrics
Gaya bahasa adalah bahasa yang digunakan untuk mengekspresikan pemikiran,

perasaan, imajinasi ataupun pesan seseorang dalam sebuah karya, yang
disampaikan melalui bahasa yang berbeda dengan literature aslinya dengan tujuan
agar karya tersebut lebih indah dan lebih menarik. Biasanya gaya bahasa
digunakan dalam puisi dan lirik sebuah lagu. Begitu juga dalam lirik lagu milik
Ed Sheeran yang mengandung beberapa gaya bahasa dan mengandung pesan
secara tidak langsung. Tujuan penelitian adalah untuk mengetahui jenis-jenis gaya
bahasa dan gaya bahasa yang paling dominan yang digunakan dalam beberapa
lagu pilihan milik Ed Sheeran, yaitu lagu yang berjudul Thingking Out Loud,
Perfect, dan Photograph. Menurut Perrine macam-macam gaya bahasa antara lain
yaitu metafora, simile, personifikasi, sinekdok, metonimi, symbol, hiperbola, dan
paradox. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian qualitative descriptive
dimana peneliti mencoba mencari tahu jenis gaya bahasa yang digunakan dan
yang paling dominan dalam lagu-lagu Ed Sheeran. Sumber data adalah semua
lirik lagu Thinking Out Loud, Perfect, dan Photograph. Dari hasil analisis data,
peneliti menyimpulkan bahwa dalam lagu Thinking Out Loud ada 5 jenis gaya
bahasa, yaitu: simile, metafora, personifikasi, hiperbola dan sinekdok. Dalam lagu
Perfect ditemukan 4 jenis gaya bahasa, yaitu: metafora, hiperbola, paradox, dan
simile. Sedangkan dalam lagu Photograph terdapat 3 jenis gaya bahasa, yaitu:
personifikasi, metafora dan sinekdok. Dari temuan tersebut menunjukan bahwa
gaya bahasa yang paling dominan digunakan dalam tiga lagu tersebut adalah gaya
bahasa jenis metafora. Dari kesimpilan penelitian ini penulis menyarankan bahwa
untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan mahasiswa tentang gaya bahasa, pembaca harus
menerapkan analisis gaya bahasa ataupun analisis jenis gaya bahasa.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
All praise be to the lord of this universe, by the grace of Allah the highest
finally the writer is able to finish her thesis after long effort of writing. Peace,
blessing and salutation be upon our great prophet Muhammad, his family, his
descendants, and his followers who strived in Islam.
The gratitude and appreciation are addressed to:
1. H. Ahmad Munib Syafa‟at, Lc., M.E.I. The rector of Islamic Institute of
Darussalam
2. Dr. Siti Aimah, S.Pd.I., M.Si. Dean of Faculty of Education and Teacher
Training
3. Dr. Hj. Zulfi Zumala Dwi Andriani, SS., MA. Head of Undergraduate
Program in English Education Department
4. Dian Kurniasih Wahyusari, S.S.,M.Hum my advisor who has given me
sincere advise and available guidance during the preparation and
completion this thesis.
5. All of my teacher and lecturer who has been ever taught and guided me all
this time.
6. My beloved parents, Mr. A. Za‟imuddin Al Kharis and Mrs. Kuswati who
always give their love sincerely, so that they are able to become the
biggest motivators in every step of reaching their goals so that there are no
words that can be expressed to repay your love. May Allah always give all
the best for you.
7. My beloved family who cannot be mentioned one by one, especially my
sister Zilvie Zuhdatul Mukarromah Kharis, and my aunt who has always
been the second mother after my mother, thank you for your prayers and
support, without your presence all of them are meaningless.
8. All of my friends, my thesis colleagues, especially Nadila Afifatul Aini
who have supported my spirit and have helped me to complete this thesis.
9. All members of Tuhfatun Nidhomiyyah Dormitory, thank you for your
support.
10. The small family of Rumah Kita, thankyou for the support and
togetherness.
11. All friends of TBIG 2017, thank you very much for your cooperation so
far, wish you all the best.
12. All parties who helped in the process of completing this thesis
Banyuwangi, 10 August 2021
Zulfatun Maghfiroh Kharis
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TABLE OF CONTENT
COVER ...........................................................................................................
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS PAGE ........................................................... ii
APPROVAL SHEET ..................................................................................... iii
AGREEMENT ............................................................................................... iv
MOTTO .......................................................................................................... v
DECLARATION OF AUTHORSHIP ......................................................... vi
ABSTRACT .................................................................................................... vii
ABSTRAK ...................................................................................................... viii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................. ix
TABLE OF CONTENT ................................................................................. x
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION................................................................... 1
A. Background of Study ........................................................................... 1
B. Research Problem................................................................................. 4
C. Objective of The Study ........................................................................ 4
D. The Scope and Limitation .................................................................... 4
E. Significance of The study..................................................................... 5
F. Definition of Key Terms ...................................................................... 6
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE .......................... 7
A. Theoretical Review .............................................................................. 7
1. Figurative Language....................................................................... 7
a. Definition of Figurative Language ........................................... 7
b. Kinds of Figurative Language .................................................. 8
2. The Nature of Music and Song ...................................................... 12
a. Definition of Music .................................................................. 12
b. Definition of Song .................................................................... 14
c. Genres of the Song ................................................................... 15
d. Lyrics........................................................................................ 16
3. Ed Sheeran ..................................................................................... 16
a. Ed Sheeran‟s Biography........................................................... 16
b. Ed Sheeran‟s Early Life ........................................................... 17
c. Ed Sheeran‟s Career ................................................................. 18
4. Ed Sheeran‟s Song Lyric ................................................................ 21
a. Thinking Out Loud ................................................................... 21
b. Perfect ...................................................................................... 23
c. Photograph ............................................................................... 24
B. Previous Study ..................................................................................... 26
C. Research Preposition ............................................................................ 30
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CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHOD ...................................................... 31
A. Research Design ................................................................................... 31
B. Subject of Research .............................................................................. 31
C. Data Source .......................................................................................... 32
D. Technique of Collecting Data .............................................................. 33
E. Data Validity ........................................................................................ 34
F. Technique of Analysis Data ................................................................. 34
CHAPTER IV RESEARCH RESULT AND DISCUSSION ..................... 36
A. Result ................................................................................................... 36
B. Discussion ............................................................................................ 44
CHAPTER V CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION ................................. 57
A. Conclusion ........................................................................................... 57
B. Suggestion ............................................................................................ 58
BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................................................................... 59
APPENDIXES
BIOGRAPHY
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CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
We as humans cannot be without contact and interaction, which
means we cannot live without words. Khoirul Nisa in her thesis stated that
language is the medium of communication by which people can maintain
their social relationships. "Language is an arbitrary system of vowel
symbols by which humans communicate," writes (Wardhaugh,1992:3).
Figurative language is the language used to express someone's
feelings by using a language that is different from the original. According
to Zainuddin (1992:51) figurative language is a term that refers to a
number of ways that people use language to convey their thoughts. It is a
way of expressing something other than the literal sense of words.
Parables, metaphors, personifications, hyperbole, symbols, idioms,
disparaging, rhetoric, repetition, onomatopoeia, metonymy, simile, and
irony are all examples of figurative language. Usually figurative language
used in literary works like poem and lyrics of the song. One of the
examples in the song lyrics that use figurative language is the lyrics from
Ed Sheeran songs.
Modern globalization has both positive and negative consequences
today. One of the impacts is to provide major developments in the fields of
science, technology, economics, education and also the arts. The
development of art goes so fast and music or song is one of the branches
arts that have a huge influence on society. Music is entertainment that
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might represent bad or good human feelings, able to express thoughts,
experiences, emotions, and beliefs, and expresses imagination. Therefore
many literary or artistic works use figurative language to make them more
imaginative as well as more interesting. And every literary work has its
own message and is different. Music has several classifications, including
pop, jazz and blues, rock, religious and others. Nowadays, music that is
favoured by the public, especially among teenagers, is western music.
Where in western music it is often found the use of figurative language to
convey the message contained or to make it more interesting and
imaginative.
Song lyrics are an expression about something that has been seen,
heard or experienced. Songs are accompanied by more lyrics that have a
structure and a relationship between them, which has the impression of
meaning. Apart from that, songs are one kind of unique way to be enjoyed.
Because music is better at combining sound with lyrics. In conclusion, the
song is an association of several lyrics that have a link between them,
which is always accompanied by music or melodic sound. Singers can
influence the listener's subconscious.
The study about figurative language, especially in the song lyrics
was conducted by reviewing some relevant thesis, particularly written by
some students. The writer found the thesis by Dewi (2020), her thesis
entitled „Figurative Language in Maher Zain‟s Song Lyrics‟, Nisa (2020),
her thesis entitled „An Analysis of Figurative Language in the Maher
Zain‟s Song Lyric‟, Kurniawati (2018), her thesis entitled „An Analysis of
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Figurative Language Used in Song Lyrics of Speak Now Album by Taylor
Swift‟, and Akbar (2016), his thesis entitled „Figurative Expressions
Found in Ed Sheeran‟s Album X: a semantic Analysis‟. That four research
have similarities, both of them have been examining figurative language in
a song.
In this study, the researcher analyzed the figures of speech
contained in the selected songs of Ed Sheeran. This research was
conducted based on the researcher's knowledge that Ed Sheeran's songs
contain a lot of figure of speech in them. Therefore, the researcher
analyses the figurative language contained in Ed Sheeran's song.
In addition, Ed Sheeran is a pop singer from England. He started
his musical career in 2004 until now. Not only works as a singer, but he
also works as a songwriter, record producer and also as an actor. He has
composed many songs, and each one has its own deep meaning. Ed
Sheeran also uses figurative language in some of his song lyrics to convey
the message or meaning of the song indirectly and to make the song more
beautiful and more interesting.
Based on the explanation above, the researcher is interested in
analysing the figurative language contained in a song. By looking at the
figurative language contained in the song, someone can better animate or
understand what message the song contains. Therefore, researcher will
conduct research with the title of research ”THE ANALYSIS OF
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGES IN ED SHEERAN SELECTED SONG
LYRICS”
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B. Research Problem
Based on the background of the research discussed above, the research
problem are formulated as follows:
1. What types of figurative languages are used in Ed Sheeran selected
song lyrics?
2. What type of figurative language is dominantly used in Ed Sheeran
selected song lyrics?
3. What the relation between the songs and the society at the time?
C. Objective of the Study
Based on the statements of research problem above, the objectives
of this study are:
1. To find out the types of figurative languages are used in Ed
Sheeran selected song lyrics.
2. To find out the most dominant figurative language in Ed
Sheeran selected song lyrics.
3. To find out the relation between the song and the society at the
time.
D. The Scope and Limitation
In order to make the study more focus, the study is focused on the
figurative language used in Ed Sheeran selected songs, they are Thinking

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Out Loud, Perfect, and Photograph. And the figurative language focused
on hyperbole, metaphor, personification, simile, synecdoche and also
paradox.
E. Significance of the Study
1. For Students
For students, I hope this research can be useful to learn more in-
depth figurative language, not only from their textbooks but also from
English song lyrics. In addition, in practice, students can practice their
ability to memorize more vocabulary and improve their skills in
English.
2. For Lecturer
For lecturers, I hope this research can help in teaching figurative
language and also new vocabulary, not only from handbooks, but also
practical from reading and analyzing song lyrics which is expected to
help students acquire their new vocabulary effectively.
3. For the Future Research
For further research, hopefully this research will be one of the
important reference for English Education who conducted similar
research.
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F. Definition of Key Term
The title of this research is “The Analysis of Figurative Languages
in Ed Sheeran Selected Song Lyrics”. Concerning with this title, to avoid
misunderstanding the researcher would like to give some definitions:
1. According to Keraf (2009), Figurative language is a way of
expressing the author's feelings using beautiful languages.
2. Song is the act of singing, short composition in which word and
music combined together for unity (Longman Modern
Dictionary). According to Jamalus (1988:5) reveals that songs
can be described as art works in singing to musical instruments
accompaniment.
3. According to Hornby (2000:802), Lyric is expressing a
person‟s personal feelings and thoughts, connected with written
for singing.
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
A. Theoretical Review
1. Figurative Language
a. Definition of Figurative Language
The researcher applies Perrine's theory (1987: 576-
645) in his book Literature, Structure, Sound, and Sense to
this research. Figurative language, according to Perrine, is a
way of expressing something in a non-traditional way.
Metaphor, simile, personification, synecdoche, metonymy,
sign, and hyperbole are among the forms of figurative
language described in his book.
A literary work contains elements of beauty in its
language, contains meaning that is not in accordance with
the original. One that is used to make a literary work more
attractive and more beautiful is the use of figurative
language.
Figurative language are words or phrases used by
the author to beautify his work and to convey messages or
meanings indirectly. Figurative Language is a style of
language that can be figurative, like, parable which aims to
beautify the meaning and message of a sentence
(„Ain:2013).
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Figure of speech is the style of language used by the
writer to convey a message in an imaginative and figurative
way (Ratna:2019). Figurative language is language that
uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different
from the literal interpretation (Adkins:2001). Bardshaw
stated that figurative language of figure of speech is
combinations of words whose meaning cannot be
determined by examination of the meanings of the words
that make it up or to put it another way, a figurative
language uses a number of words to represent a single
object, person or concept (Bardshaw:2002).
From some of the above meanings, it can be
concluded that figurative language is a person's way of
expressing imagination conveying messages from the work
they make, either through written or oral.
b. Kinds of Figurative Language
1) Simile
Simile is almost the same as Metaphor, it's
just that Simile uses direct comparisons, usually
using the words: Like, As, etc. Simile is the
comparison of two things, by the use of some words
or phrase such as like as, than, similar to, or
resemble (Laurence:1969).
Example : Busy as a bee

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2) Metaphor
Metaphor is a language used to compare an
entity to another. Usually, different things are being
compared, between what is abstract and what is not.
According to Keraf “metaphor is a figure of speech
which compares two things directly, but in a simple
form. Metaphor cannot use word like, such as,
similar to, and, resemble.” (Reaske, 2000:67).
Example : Time is money.
3) Personification
Personification is to think that objects other
than humans have feelings, behaviours (verbs), and
are physical like humans. Describing inanimate
objects as if alive. Keraf, said “Personification is the
figurative language that describe a nonlife things or
non-human object abstraction or ideas able to act
like human being.” (Reaske, 2000:68)
Example : The sun played hide and seek
with the clouds.
4) Apostrophe
Adding a non-existent or inanimate object
seems alive and could mistake what someone said.
Example : “Actually cannot want to say, but
your child very naughty”

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5) Synecdoche
A figure of speech in which a part represents
the whole. Perrine states synecdoche is the use of
the part for the whole (Perrine:69).
Example : lend you a hand (you don‟t really
just want his hand).
6) Metonymy
Metonymy is a style of language used by
mentioning brands or other terms of objects that are
still common. Perrine states that metonymy is the
use of something closely related to the thing
actually meant (Perrine:69).
Example : Budi went to Surabaya to ride a
deer (what is meant here is a car branded as a deer).
7) Symbol
Perrine states that symbol is defined as
something that means more than what it is
(Perrine:82). Symbol is a language style that
compares something with something else using
symbols, symbols or objects.
Example : Now Ana is already good at
fighting the tongue with his parents.

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8) Allegory
Perrine states that allegory is a narrative or a
description that has meaning beneath the surface
one (Perrine:91). Allegory is a language style that
uses figuratively in the form of object, symbol or
other characteristics with or without an explanation
of the real meaning.
Example : “Story about mouse deer and
crocodile”.
9) Paradox
Perrine states that paradox is an apparent
contradiction that is nevertheless something true. It
may be either situation or statement (Perrine:109).
Paradox is a style of language that expresses its
meaning by comparing two things that are
contradictory but it is true.
Example : “She feel alone in center of town”
10) Hyperbole
Perrine states that hyperbole is simply
exaggeration out in the service of truth
(Perrine:109). Hyperbola is a language or figure of
speech used to express or exaggerate something.
Example : You have big eyes like an apple.

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11) Understatement
Perrine in his journal states that
understatement is saying less than one means that
may exist in what are said or merely in how one
says it (Perrine:111). Understatement is the
opposite of overstatement.
Example : Swimming with those starving
sharks might be a bit unpleased.
12) Irony
Perrine states that irony is the opposite of
what one means (Perrine:113). Irony is a language
style that expresses meaning using subtle innuendos
that contradict the real meaning.
Example : “your rapport is very good, until
red‟s colour all”.
2. The Nature of Music and Song
a. Definition of Music
Music is one medium of art expression; music
reflects the culture of the community. In the music
contained values and norms that are part of the cultural
enculturation process, both from the point of structural and
type in culture. Music is a an art of arranging sounds to

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produce an unified and evocative composition as through
rhythm, melody and harmony („Ain:2013).
According to Hornby (2000: 873) said that music is
sounds that are arranged in a way that is pleasant or
exciting to listen to. So the art of music is the expression of
feelings or thoughts spark which issued regularly in the
form of sound. The most basic element of music is the
sound. The sound of good music is the result of the
interaction of three elements: rhythm, melody, and
harmony. Rhythm is sound settings in a time, long, short,
and tempo, and this gives each its own character in music.
Combination of pitch and rhythm will produce a certain
melody. Furthermore, a good combination of rhythm and
melody and harmony produce a beautiful sound when
heard.
The lyrics have two meanings, namely (1) a literary
work (poetry) that contains an outpouring of personal
feelings, (2) the composition of a song (Moeliono,
2003:678). To use a lyric a poet must be good at processing
words. The word song has meaning all kinds of rhythmic
sounds (2007:624). Poetry (song lyrics) is an arrangement
of words in which each line has certain rhyme or rhyme
(Sayuti, 1985:13).
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b. Definition of Song
Song is a composition of tone or voice in sequence,
combination and temporal relation to produce a musical
composition that has unity and continuity. According to
Hornby (2000: 1281) said that “Song is a short piece of
music with words that you sing”.
Longman Modern Dictionary states that song is “the
act of singing, short composition in which word and music
combined together to unity”. It means that song cannot be
separate from the music. Song and music are related to each
other in order to make good symphony.
Songs are highly expressive. Some convey love and
emotions, some tell a memorable and moving story, some
create one‟s dreams and ideals, and some reminisce about
the golden past. Songs has a beautiful melody to make our
sense change to be better. Music instrument make a good
song which nice to listen. Song can change our mood
become better.
Songs can be sung solo, both (duet), three (trio) or
the rollicking. Words in the song are usually shaped
rhythmic poetry, but there is also a religious nature or free
prose. Songs can be categorized in many types, depending
on the measure used.

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Song is the art of sound or tone that has a
combination or sequence that is usually accompanied by a
musical instrument to produces a continuous music. So,
song and music are two parts that cannot be separated each
other.
c. Genres of The Songs
Songs can be broadly divided into many different
forms and types, depending on the criteria used.
1) Art song
Art songs are songs created for performance
by classical artists, often with piano or other
instrumental accompaniment, although they can be
sung solo. Art songs require strong vocal technique,
understanding of language, diction and poetry for
interpretation.
2) Folk Song
Folk songs are songs of often anonymous
origin that are transmitted orally. Folk song are
frequently a major aspect of national or cultural
identity. Art songs often approach the status of folk
songs when people forget who the author was. Folk
songs include ballads, lullabies, love songs,
mourning songs, dance songs, ritual songs and
many more.
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d. Lyrics
Lyrics are the compositions in verse which is sung
to a melody to constitute a song. Lyric is expressing deep
personal emotion or observations. Lyrics are a set of words
that make up a song, usually consisting of verses and
choruses. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible,
and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form,
articulation, meter, and symmetry of expression. A lyric is a
paper written by someone who has imagination in
composing beautiful words that have deep meaning. Lyrics
and music combined would be a wonderful song and
pleasing to the ear. According to Hornby (2000: 802), he
stated that the lyrics is expressing a person's personal
feeling and thoughts, connected with singing and written
for a lyric poem is the words of a song.
3. Ed Sheeran
a. Ed Sheeran‟s Biography
Ed Sheeran whose full name is Edward Christopher
Sheeran was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England on
February 17, 1991. He grew up in Framlingham, Suffolk.
He is an English singer, songwriter, guitarist, record
producer and actor. He entered the Academy of
Contemporary Music in Guildford as a scholar at the age of

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18 in 2009. In early 2011, Sheeran independently released
an extended play entitled No. 6 Collaboration Projects.
After signing with Asylum Records, his debut
album, + (pronounced "plus"), was released in September
2011. It topped the UK and Australia album charts, peaked
at number five in the US, and has been certified seven-
times platinum in the UK. Raya.
His second studio album, x (pronounced as
"multiply"), was released in June 2014. It peaked at number
one in the UK and US. In 2015, x won the Brit Award for
Album of the Year, and he received the Ivor Novello
Award for Songwriter of the Year from the British
Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.
Sheeran's third album, (pronounced as "divide"),
was released in March 2017. It debuted at number one in
the UK, US and other countries. The first two singles from
the album, "Shape of You" and "Castle on the Hill", were
released in January 2017 and broke records in various
countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and
Germany, debuting in the top two positions on the charts.
b. Ed Sheeran‟s Early Life
Sheeran was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, and
moved with his family to Framlingham in Suffolk when he
was a child. He has an older brother named Matthew, who

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works as a composer. Their parents, John and Imogen, are
from London.
Sheeran sang in the local church choir from the age
of four, learned to play guitar while attending Rishworth
School, and began writing songs while attending Thomas
Mills High School in Framingham. He was accepted into
the National Youth Theatre in London as a teenager. He is
patron of Youth Music Theatre UK and of Access to music,
where he majored in Artist Development.
c. Ed Sheeran‟s Career
Sheeran began recording music in 2004, and
independently released his first collection, Spinning Man.
He moved to London in 2008, in that year, he auditioned
for the ITV series, Britannia High. He also opened for
Nizlopi at Norwich in April 2008, after being one of their
guitar technicians. He released another EP in 2009, You
Need Me, before going on tour with Just Jack. He has also
done several collaborations with Essex singer Leddra
Chapman, including "Fuck You" Cee Lo Green. In
February 2010, Sheeran posted a video via SB.TV, and
rapper Example invited Sheeran to tour with him. That
same month, he also released the EP Loose Change,
featuring his upcoming debut single, "The A Team". In the
fall of 2009, Sheeran began studying music at the Academy

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of Contemporary Music (ACM) in Guildford, Surrey as an
undergraduate, although it is unclear how long he remained
on campus.
Sheeran began to be seen and known by many
people through the internet through YouTube. He
performed at the Station Session in St. Pancras
International in June 2010. Then Sheeran also self-released
two other EPs in 2010, Ed Sheeran: Live at the Bedford and
Songs I Wrote with Amy, which is a collection of love
songs he wrote in Wales with singer, Amy Wadge. In 2010
he was in Los Angeles and was invited to perform at The
Foxhole, a club run by actor Jamie Foxx, which ended with
an invitation to stay at Foxx's house.
On January 8, 2011 Sheeran released another
independent EP, No. 5 Collaborations Project, featuring
artists such as Wiley, Jme, Devlin, Sway, and Ghetts. Three
months later, Sheeran put on a free fan show at Barfly in
Camden Town. Later that month, Sheeran was signed to
Asylum Records. His first album, + (Plus) released on
2011, some of his songs include 'The A Team, Drunk', 'You
Need Me, I Don't Need You' and 'Kiss Me'.
Sheerans' second album, x (pronounced as
“multiply”), was released on June 23, 2014. Some of the
single songs included in this second album include. In

20
2017, Sheeran released his third album, (pronounced as
“divide”), Perfect, Shape of You, Castle on the Hill are
some singles that are included in “multiply” album.
Sheeran's fourth album, No.6 Collaborations Project
released in May 10, 2019. In this album, Sheeran includes
songs with other singers. Among them are the singles titled
"I Don't Care" which is a duet with Justin Bieber, "Cross
Me" which features collaborations Chance the Rapper and
PnB Rock, "Beautiful People" with Khalid, "Best Part of
Me" with Yebba, "Blow" with Bruno Mars and Chris
Stapleton, “Antisocial” with Travis Scott and “Take Me
Back to London” with Stormzy.
Sheeran made his acting debut in 2014, a supporting
role as himself in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland
Street, which was filmed while he was in the country. In
May 2015, he appeared as himself and appeared on an
episode live of komsit NBC Undateable. That same year,
while in Australia, he filmed a scene for a soap opera Home
and Away, as a character inspired by himself. Sheeran was
chosen by creator Kurt Sutter to play Sir Cormac in the
play The Bastard Executioner on the FX channel. Sheeran
also appeared as himself in the 2016 film Bridget Jones's
Baby. In July 2017, Sheeran appeared in a supporting role
in Game of Thrones.
21
4. Ed Sheeran’s Song Lyric
a. Thinking Out Loud
When your legs don't work like they used to before
And I can't sweep you off of your feet
Will your mouth still remember the taste of my love
Will your eyes still smile from your cheeks
Darlin' I will
Be lovin' you
Till we're seventy
Baby my heart
Could still fall as hard
At twenty three
I'm thinkin' bout how
People fall in love in mysterious ways
Maybe it's all part of a plan
Me I fall in love with you every single day
I just wanna tell you I am
So honey now
Take me into your lovin' arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Place your head on my beating heart
I'm thinking out loud
Maybe we found love right where we are
When my hairs all but gone and my memory fades

22
And the crowds don‟t remember my name
When my hands don't play the strings the same way (mmm)
I know you will still love me the same
Cause honey your soul
Can never grow old
It's evergreen
Baby your smile's forever in my mind in memory
Maybe just a touch of a hand
I'll continue making the same mistakes
Hoping that you'll understand
That baby now (oooh)
Take me into your loving arms
Maybe we found love right where we are (ohh ohh)
Baby now
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars (oh darlin')

23
We found love right where we are
And we found love right where we are
b. Perfect
I found a love for me
Oh darling, just dive right in and follow my lead
Well, I found a girl, beautiful and sweet
Oh, I never knew you were the someone waiting for me
'Cause we were just kids when we fell in love
Not knowing what it was
I will not give you up this time
But darling, just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own
And in your eyes, you're holding mine
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favourite song
When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath
my breath
But you heard it, darling, you look perfect tonight
Well I found a woman, stronger than anyone I know
She shares my dreams, I hope that someday I'll share her
home
I found a love, to carry more than just my secrets
To carry love, to carry children of our own
We are still kids, but we're so in love

24
Fighting against all odds
I know we'll be alright this time
Darling, just hold my hand
Be my girl, I'll be your man
I see my future in your eyes
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms
When I saw you in that dress, looking so beautiful
I don't deserve this, darling, you look perfect tonight
I have faith in what I see
Now I know I have met an angel in person
And she looks perfect
I don't deserve this
You look perfect tonight
c. Photograph
Loving can hurt, loving can hurt sometimes
But it's the only thing that I know
When it gets hard, you know it can get hard sometimes
It is the only thing that makes us feel alive
We keep this love in a photograph
We made these memories for ourselves

25
Where our eyes are never closing
Our hearts are never broken
And time's forever frozen, still
So you can keep me
Inside the pocket of your ripped jeans
Holding me close until our eyes meet
You won't ever be alone, wait for me to come home
Loving can heal, loving can mend your soul
And it's the only thing that I know, know
I swear it will get easier, remember that with every piece of
you
And it's the only thing we take with us when we die
So you can keep me
You won't ever be alone
And if you hurt me
That's okay baby, only words bleed
Inside these pages you just hold me
And I won't ever let you go
Wait for me to come home

26
You can fit me
Inside the necklace you got when you were sixteen
Next to your heartbeat where I should be
Keep it deep within your soul
And if you hurt me
Well that's okay baby, only words bleed
When I'm away, I will remember how you kissed me
Under the lamppost back on Sixth street
Hearing you whisper through the phone
B. Previous Study
There are many previous studies related to figurative language. In this
part, the researcher will discuss several previous studies as a guideline for
working on the thesis. The writer found in the thesis by Dewi (2020), her
thesis entitled „Figurative Language in Maher Zain‟s Song Lyrics‟, Nisa
(2020), her thesis entitled „An Analysis of Figurative Language in the
Maher Zain‟s Song Lyric‟, Kurniawati (2018), her thesis entitled „An
Analysis of Figurative Language Used in Song Lyrics of Speak Now
Album by Taylor Swift‟, and Akbar (2016), his thesis entitled „Figurative
Expressions Found in Ed Sheeran‟s Album X: a semantic Analysis‟.

27
The first is research by Laila Alviana Dewi (2020), entitled
”Figurative Language in Maher Zain‟s Song Lyric” from English
Education Department, Faculty of Education and Teacher Training State
Institute of Islamic Studies Ponorogo. The purpose of this research were
to find the types of figurative language in Maher Zain‟s songs and disclose
the most dominant types of figurative language in Maher Zain‟s songs.
The method used in this research is descriptive qualitative approach and
the research design was content analysis. Based on the result of the study,
it can be concluded that the most dominant types of figurative language in
Maher Zain‟s song is hyperbole.
The second is research by Khoirul Nisa (2020), entitled “An Analysis
of Figurative Language in Maher Zain‟s Song Lyric”. From English
Education Department, Faculty of Education and Teacher Training State
Institute of Islamic Studies Metro. The purpose of this research is to know
what types of figurative language can be found in song lyric by Maher
Zain. This research used qualitative content analysis. From the results of
the data analysis, the researcher concluded that there are n the song "Insha
Allah", there are 9 types of figurative languages, namely: Personification,
Metaphor, Simile, Hyperbole, Irony, Alliteration, Parallelism,
Synecdoche, and Euphemism. And in the song "For the Rest of My Life",
there are 3 types of figurative language, namely: Hyperbole, Litotes, and
Alliteration. In the song "Hold My Hands", the author found 7 types of
figurative languages, namely: Personification, Metaphor, Antithesis,
Simile, Irony, Parallelism and Synecdoche.

28
The third research by Nita Kurniawati (2018), entitled “An Analysis
of Figurative Language Used in Song Lyrics of Speak Now Album by
Taylor Swift”. English and Education Department, Teacher Training and
Education Faculty, Muria Kudus University. The purposes of this research
are: (1) to find out the types of figurative language used in song lyrics of
“Speak Now” album by Taylor Swift. And (2) to describe the
interpretation of figurative language used in song lyrics of “Speak Now”
album by Taylor Swift. The result of this research shows that the total
number of types of figurative language used in song lyrics of “Speak
Now” album by Taylor Swift are 48 types of figurative language. And the
dominant one is Hyperbole, there are totally 17 types. And that there are
10 similes, 8 personification, 8 symbol. 2 metaphor, 2 oxymoron and 1
synecdoche that is used in the song lyrics of “speak now” album by Taylor
Swift. The writer concluded that there are seven types of figurative
language used in song lyrics, they are Hyperbole, Personification, Simile,
Metaphor, Symbol, Synecdoche, and oxymoron.
The fourth research by Rizqi Aldilini Akbar (2016), entitled
“Figurative Expressions Found in Ed Sheeran‟s Album X: A Semantic
Analysis”. Department of English, Faculty of Cultural Studies, University
of Sumatera Utara. The purpose of this research to find out the type and
the most dominant figurative expressions which specifically discusses
about figurative expressions found in Ed Sheeran‟s album X. the result of
this research shows that researcher found 118 data: 10 of Personification,
76 of Metaphor, 6 of Simile, 14 of Synecdoche and 12 of Metonymies.

29
The writer concluded that metaphor becomes the most dominant type of
figurative expression occurred in the album.
The similarities between the four previous studies that have been
mentioned with this study are both examining figurative language in a
song. Whereas the difference between the four previous studies and this
research is that, in research conducted by Laila Alviana Dewi, she
analyzes the figurative language that is the most prominent in Maher
Zain's song, while the researcher analyze the type and the most figurative
language that occurred in three songs by Ed Sheeran.
Khoirul Nisa's research analyzed the types of figurative language
contained in each of Maher Zain's songs, while the researcher only
analyzed the type and most dominant figurative language only in three
songs by Ed Sheeran. The third previous study was a research conducted
by Nita Kurniawati, she analyzed the type of figurative language contained
in the song Speak Now and described the interpretation of the figurative
language, while the researcher analyzed type and the most dominant
figurative language. The fourth previous study was research conducted by
Rizqi Aldilini Akbar , he analyzed the type and most dominant figurative
language in one album of Ed Sheeran that namely X, while the researcher
only analyzed the type and the most dominant figurative language in three
songs by Ed Sheeran.
The four previous studies are very helpful and provide a reference for
researchers in analyzing figurative language contained in a song.

30
C. Research Preposition
According to the researcher, Ed Sheeran‟s song entitled Thinking
Out Loud tells about the love of a pair of lovers who are eternal until old
age, which will not be fragile even with age. According to the researcher's
temporary assumption, this song contains hyperbole, personification and
metaphor. The figure of speech that dominates is a metaphorical figure of
speech.
Perfect song by Ed Sheeran tells the story of a love affair when a
person is a child, which then recurs when he is an adult. And the man in
this story praises his lover who he thinks is so perfect. The researcher
assumes that in this song there are metaphors, hyperboles, and similes.
However, the most widely used figure of speech is hyperbole.
Meanwhile, Ed Sheeran's song Photograph is about the longing of
a person who has to undergo a long distance relationship with his partner,
and to treat his longing he sees a photo of his lover. In this song, the
researcher argues that there are several figure of speech used, including
metaphorical figure of speech, hyperbole, personification. And most of
them are metaphorical figures of speech.
The data collected is in the form of the lyrics of Ed Sheeran
selected song, there are Thinking Out Loud, Perfect, and Photograph.
From the three songs, the researcher concludes that from all the figure of
speech used in the three songs, it is a metaphorical figure of speech.

CHAPTER III
RESEARCH METHOD
A. Research Design
There are two kinds of research methods, namely qualitative
methods and quantitative methods. This research is classified according to
its purpose. Quoted according to Creswell that "Qualitative Research is
one type of research that can be used in the scope of education in addition
to quantitative research and classroom action research". In this study, the
researcher chose to use descriptive qualitative research methods, where the
data were described systematically to get accurate results. The purpose of
descriptive research is to systematically describe the facts and
characteristics. And in this study using this method because it aims to
describe and analyze the type of figurative language used in Ed Sheeran's
chosen songs. This research is done by formulating problems, collecting
data, classifying data, and analyzing data.
B. Subject of the Research
The subject of this research are 3 selected songs by Ed Sheran that
could potentially have an interesting figurative language to be studied, the
songs are: Thinking Out Loud, Perfect, and Photograph. Thinking Out
Loud and Photograph are Ed Sheeran's singles from his second album
entitled X (Multiply), which was released in 2014. While the song Perfect
31
32
is one of the singles from Sheeran's third album entitled (Divide) which
was released in 2017.
C. Data Source
In this research, the researcher uses two source, they are primary
and secondary source.
1. Primary Data Source
According to Ary, Jacobs, Razavieh and Sorensen (2006:
446-447) primary data sources are original documents
(correspondence, diaries, report, etc), relics, remains, or
artefact. These are the direct outcomes of events or the record
of participant. In this research, primary data source are the lyric
script of 3 selected songs by Ed Sheeran entitled “Thinking
Out Loud”, “Perfect”, and “Photograph”.
2. Secondary Data
Secondary data source the mine of a non-observer also
comes between the event and the user of the record.
Secondary data source are articles and previous study which
related about of figurative language. It means that the
secondary data source, existing data and found the results to be
reviewed. In this research conduct secondary data source to
strengthen the results of the analysis of the primary data source.

33
D. Technique of Collecting Data
The data collection technique is the most important part of the
success or failure of a study. The aim of technique is to measure the extent
to which the object that the researcher‟s research understand and
appreciate the song lyrics that would research use. The technique for
collecting data is the observation and study documentation, and another
data are collected through:
1. Library Research
Literature technique is "library research carried out by
reading, studying and recording various literature or reading
materials that are in accordance with the subject matter, then
filtered and poured into a theoretical framework" (Kartono,
1998:78). Library sources like books and other papers that
related with the research. The quotations are taken by doing
reading activities from different libraries or downloaded from
some sites in form of e-books or other.
2. Browsing Internet
Accessing Internet Sites (Websites) this method is done by
browsing websites/sites that provide various data and
information related to research, namely sites regarding research
journals on figurative language and various other sites that
serve as a basic basis or reference for studying various theories
and practice that the authors are investigating.

34
D. Data Validity
The validity of the collected data is vital. Wrong data will lead to
wrong conclusions, nd vice versa, valid data will be a conclusion to the
correct results. Gunawan (2017: 216) determines the uniqueness of the
data, a technique of checking data is needed. A data checking technique
for a study and a technique based on a multi-perspective perspective on
economics.
E. Technique of Analysis Data
The technique that the researcher uses is content analysis. The
researcher will write all of the finding content analysis that researcher find
in the research and classify all of the statements included in each type of
figurative language. Data is the focus of analyzing the song lyrics in the 3
songs by Ed Sheeran. There are any steps to analyze data in order to
understand about the result of the data.
1. Listening the selected songs of Ed Sheeran.
The first step the researcher took in analyzing the data was
listening to all of Ed Sheeran's songs that had been selected for
analysis.
2. Reading the lyrics of selected songs of Ed Sheeran.
3. After listening to the song, the next step is to read the lyrics of
each song carefully and carefully.
4. Underlining the words which related in figurative language.

35
5. Then underline the lyrics that contain or use language styles in
them.
6. Identifying. After being marked or underlined, the next step is
to identify the language style contained in the lyrics.
7. After identifying and finding the type of language style used,
the next step is to classify the song lyrics according to the
language style used.
8. Reanalyze the classified statements and figurative language to
avoid mistakes by using the theories of experts. This section is
very important, because when in the classification process,
mistakes can occur in classifying lyrics with figurative
language, therefore it needs to be reviewed to strengthen the
argument.
9. The last step is to determine the most dominant language style
used from all the songs analyzed.

CHAPTER IV
RESEARCH RESULT AND DISCUSSION
In this chapter explanation about the research finding that the writer found,
there are the types of figurative language in Ed Sheeran selected song lyrics. The
songs are Thinking Out Loud, Perfect, and Photograph.
A. Result
1. Thinking Out Loud
Darlin' I will be lovin' you till we're seventy
Baby my heart could still fall as hard at twenty three
So honey now
36
37
And the crowds don’t remember my name
Cause honey your soul can never grow old it's evergreen
Baby now take me into your loving arms

38
Table 4.1
No. Figurative
Data Bait
Language
When your legs don‟t work like
1. Simile 1
they used to before
Baby my heart could still fall as
6
hard at twenty three
Will your mouth still remember
2. Metaphor 3
the taste of my love
Darling I will be loving you till
5
we‟re seventy
Kiss me under the lights of a
14
thousand stars
Maybe we found love right
17
where we are
When my hairs all but gone and
18
my memory fades
When my hands don‟t play the
20
strings the same way
Cause honey, you soul can
22
never grow old, it‟s evergreen
Baby your smile‟s forever in
23
my mind in memory
Kiss me under the lights of a 14, 31,

3. Hyperbole
thousand stars 37
Will your mouth still remember

4. Personification 3
the taste of my love
Will your eyes still smile from
4
your cheeks
5. Synecdoche Place your head on my beating 15, 32,
39
heart 38
And the crowds don‟t

19
remember my name
2. Perfect
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my
breath
She shares my dreams, I hope that someday I'll share her home

40
Table 4.2
No. Figurative
Data Bait
Language
I found a love, to carry more
1. Simile 16
than just my secrets
Darling, just dive right in and
2. Metaphor 2
follow my lead
But darling, just kiss me slow,
8
your heart is all I own
Well I found a woman, stronger 14

41
than anyone I know

Baby, I‟m dancing in the dark,
10,24
with you between my arms
When you said you looked a
mess, I whispered underneath 12
my breath
I see my future in your eyes 23
But darling, just kiss me slow,

3. Hyperbole 8
your heart is all I own
I see my future in your eyes 23
When you said you looked a

4. Paradox mess, I whispered underneath 12
my breath
3. Photograph
So you can keep me

42
I swear it will get easier, remember that with every piece of you
So you can keep me
And if you hurt me
You can fit me
And if you hurt me

43
Table 4.3
No. Figurative
Data Bait
Language
We keep this love in a
1. Metaphor 5
photograph
When our eyes are never
7
closing
Hearts are never broken 8
Times forever frozen still 9
So you can keep me inside the

10-11
pocket of your ripped jeans
Loving can mend your soul 14
And it‟s the only thing we take

17
with us when we die
Inside these pages you just hold
24
me
Oh you can fit me inside the
necklace you got when you 30-31
were
Next to your heartbeat where I
32
should be
Keep it deep within your soul 33
2. Personification Loving can hurt 1

44
Holding me closer still our eyes

12
meet
Loving can heal 14
And if you hurt me that‟s OK,

22-23
baby, only words bleed
Remember that with every
3. Synecdoche 16
piece of you
B. Discussion
1. Analysis of the Lyric
a. Thinking Out Loud
a) When your legs don’t work like they used to before
The lyric above included simile because in this lyric the songwriter
compares the legs of his girlfriend with the ones she had in the past.
It is about whether or not they will still do the same.
b) Baby my heart could still fall as hard at twenty three
This sentences included simile because the writer comparing the
idea that his heart will always be young and tough with the idea of
a heart of a 23 year old man.
c) Will your mouth still remember the taste of my love
This lyric is obviously a metaphor for it is impossible to remember
the taste of love. Love is an abstract object and it cannot be tasted.
What the writer wants to state through this line is whether or not
the woman still feels his love.
d) Darling I will be loving you till we’re seventy

45
This lyric in literally means that the songwriter will still love his
girlfriend until they were 70 years old. The number of 70 just a
metaphor to say „old‟. So, the real meaning of this lyric is „Darling
I will be loving you until we both are old‟.
e) Kiss me under the lights of a thousand stars
That sentences is a metaphor of „night‟ for stars only show up at
night. Therefore the meaning of this sentences is „kiss me at this
beautiful night‟.
f) Maybe we found love right where we are
The line above is a metaphor, because the songwriter states that
they fall in love to each other at the day they meet. Whereas love is
an abstract object that cannot be found.
g) When my hairs all but gone and my memory fades
That lyric is a metaphor of the characteristics of old man. This lyric
meaning that the songwriter asked to his girlfriend „will you still
love me when I‟m old and no remember you?‟
h) When my hands don’t play the strings the same way
Like the lyric before, this lyric also a metaphor of when the
songwriter in old, when the songwriter can no longer play a guitar
like he used to when he was young.
i) Cause honey, you soul can never grow old, it’s evergreen
Soul is an abstract object. Literally, it cannot grow old. This line is
a metaphor that states that she is a kind-hearted woman with love
and compassion.
46
j) Baby your smile’s forever in my mind in memory
That lyric used metaphor figurative language. That sentences is
another way to say that the songwriter will forever remember her
girlfriend‟s smile.
k) Kiss me under the lights of a thousand stars
The lyric above is hyperbole because the light of stars is just like a
dot and stars cannot be counted as well.
l) Will your mouth still remember the taste of my love
This lyric included personification because mouth is a thing that
cannot doing the human ability.
m) Will your eyes still smile from your cheeks
Smile is human ability and eyes cannot doing smile like a person.
n) Place your head on my beating heart
That sentence is a synecdoche. And in this sentences used
synecdoche pars pro toto that a word or a part represents the whole.
In this sentences „beating heart‟ is represents the word „chest‟.
Heart is a part of chest.
o) And the crowds don’t remember my name
This lyric is considered as synecdoche which is the use of a part of
thing represents the whole. In this lyric, word „name‟ represent to
„a person‟. So, this lyric means is not just the name that the crowds
don‟t remember, but a person.

47
b. Perfect
a) I found a love, to carry more than just my secrets
In this lyric, the songwriter used „more than’ that one of simile
criteria. The songwriter compares to carry his love with carry his
secret.
b) Darling, just dive right in and follow my lead
This sentence uses a metaphorical figure of speech, because it says
that the lover is enough to dive into himself, the speech is only
figurative language or other language to say that it is enough to
recognize him more deeply and follow it.
c) Baby, I’m dancing in the dark, with you between my arms
The lyrics contain a metaphorical figure of speech where the
songwriter doesn't actually dance in the dark, meaning they dance
one night with their lover in their arms.
d) Well I found a woman, stronger than anyone I know
That lyric used word „than‟, that is one of characteristic from
metaphor figurative language.
e) But darling, just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own
That lyric used hyperbole figurative language because said that the
heart is all can own, it is a express of exaggerate something.
f) I see my future in your eyes
This sentence used hyperbole because the future cannot be see let
alone look in someone eyes.

48
g) When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my
breath
This lyric included to paradox figurative language because both the
sentence and the fact are contradictory. In this sentence, literally
the songwriter said that his girlfriend is looked a mess, but in the
fact she is very beautiful.
c. Photograph
a) We keep this love in a photograph
Love is an abstract object that untouched and unseen, so, it is no
way love can be kept in a photograph.
b) When our eyes are never closing
People close their eyes when they sleep or die. By saying „where
our eyes never closing‟, metaphorically, it means he is talking
about the place where they don‟t sleep or die. What the
songwriter implies is „a place where we always feel happy‟,
that is why they don‟t feel like sleeping.
c) Hearts are never broken
Actually hearts can be broken it means can be infected by virus.
That sentence is a metaphor way chosen to actually say „keep being
strong‟.
d) Times forever frozen still
Forever frozen still‟ means „not moving‟ it means stop. So
figuratively, this line means „times stop‟ or in other word, forever.

49
e) So you can keep me inside the pocket of your ripped jeans
This lyric contains. It is impossible to keep someone inside the
pocket of jeans. The thing that she keep inside the pocket of jeans
is photograph. In other word, the song writer wants her girlfriend to
treat him like a photograph, to be kept forever means be together
forever.
f) Loving can mend your soul
Mend means to repair something that has been broken. And the
love is impossible to repair something that has been broken,
because love is not concrete object. It is a metaphor to say that with
love we can feel peace.
g) And it’s the only thing we take with us when we die
In literally, love is thing that we take with us when we die. It means
that love can be felt even after until the person is dying.
h) Inside these pages you just hold me
The lyric above used metaphor. The song writer symbolized
himself with photograph, from that lyric can be assumed that the
woman is holding him.
i) Oh you can fit me inside the necklace you got when you were 16
The song writer used metaphor to said that he ask the women to
keep him in her heart or ask her to always love him.

50
j) Next to your heartbeat where I should be
Heartbeat is related to heart and has relation with feeling. Same
with the lyric before that the song writer ask her woman to love
him.
k) Keep it deep within your soul
This sentence is metaphor, because it is impossible to keep
something in soul, soul is not a place. In other word the means of
that sentence is to suggest the woman to always remembering him.
l) Loving can hurt
Hurt is the human ability, in this lyric the songwriter gives the
human ability to abstract object „loving‟.
m) Holding me closer still our eyes meet
Eyes cannot do what human being can do, for example, meeting
someone or something. The songwriter tries to say to the listener is
that he wants his girlfriend to hold him close until they finally see
each other.
n) Loving can heal
„Loving‟ means the act of giving affection toward someone. The
writer combines it with the word „heal.‟ By doing this, it can be
interpreted that loving someone can literally heal you from
diseases. But the real point of this sentence is that by loving
someone, everything will seem better for us.
o) And if you hurt me that’s OK, baby, only words bleed

51
That lyric included to personification because the writer personifies
the word „words‟ as if they can bleed like human being.
p) Remember that with every piece of you
In this sentence word „piece‟ represent to all about someone not
just every piece of someone, but as a whole person.
2. The Most Dominant Figurative Language
From the data, the writer can concluded there are many figurative
language uses in the song lyrics that the writer analysed in 3 song
lyrics which is the writer research.
In the first song “Thinking Out Loud”, the writer found 15 the
kinds of figurative language, there are: Simile is 2 song lyrics,
Metaphor is 8 song lyrics, hyperbole is 1 song lyric, Personification is
2 song lyrics, and Synecdoche is 2 song lyrics.
In the second song “Perfect”, the writer found 10 the kinds of
figurative language. There are: Simile is 1 song lyric, Metaphor is 6
song lyrics, Hyperbole is 2 song lyrics, and Paradox is 1 song lyric.
In the third song “Photograph”, the writer found 16 the kinds of
figurative language, there are: Metaphor is 11 song lyrics,
Personification is 4 song lyrics, and Synecdoche is 1 song lyric.
In order to know the most dominant figurative language which is
used in the third song, the writer make table, to classify each song the
kinds of figurative language.

52
Table 4.4
Song S M H P Sy Pa
1st song 2 8 1 2 2 -
2nd song 1 6 2 - - 1
3rd song - 11 - 4 1 -
In the first song, the writer found the most dominant figurative
language which used is Metaphor, with 8 song lyrics. In the second
song also metaphor, with 6 song lyrics, and the third song, the mos
dominant figurative language which used is Metaphor, with 11 song
lyrics. From the third songs that the writer analyzed, can be concluded
that the most dominant of types of figurative language which is used is
Metaphor, the total 21 in the song lyrics.
3. The Relation between the song and the society at the time
The song 'Thinking Out Loud' is a romantic ballad song
written by Ed Sheeran himself, assisted by Amy Wadge. This song
was released on October 7, 2014. To support the process of making
the music video for this song, Ed Sheeran learned to dance with
Britany Cherry, a choreographer who is Nappytabs. Sheeran also
learned to dance to Paul Kamiryan to support his totality.

53
Broadly speaking, this song tells about eternal love. The
love story of a couple who grows old, but their love never fades
even though their physical bodies are getting weaker and their
physical beauty is fading.
The fame of the song Thinking Out Loud grew when it
turned out that there was a mysterious voice recorded in the song.
The voice that was heard at the 45th second was the sound of a
child reciting the word 'heart' after Ed Sheeran recited it. The voice
became a hot topic on social media at the time, especially among
music listeners.
2. Perfect
The song 'Perfect' is a song from Ed Sheeran's third album
titled Divide. The song 'Perfect' tells the story of the singer's (Ed
Sheeran) feelings for his girlfriend. The lyrics of the song 'Perfect'
are not too complicated and very beautiful. The song 'Perfect' is a
song that tells about Ed Sheeran's lover named Cherry Seaborn.
Cherry is a 24-year-old woman from Suffolk, UK, where Sheeran
grew up and was educated. Their love story that began when they
were very young in school is contained in this song. The lyrics of
this song express Sheeran's deep love for Cherry, the woman he
loves and wants to edit her as his life partner.
Based on the locational interpretation, the reality of the
situation expressed in the lyric discourse of the song 'Perfect' is a

54
pair of lovers who are reunited by an opportunity and fall in love
again. The topic of conversation in this song is happiness, joy,
hope, beautiful nostalgia, and dreams but also shows determination
in living love and its twists and turns. The woman is described as a
figure who is loyal to save her love but is also strong and patient
waiting for her true love to return to her. Especially when faced
with a condition that has separated from the songwriter as a couple
in the past. The songwriter's behavior is described as that the man
is in love, his heart is full of flowers, and full of praise for the
woman. With a beautiful and seductive expression of love, he
expects his lover to accept his love again and build a household
with him. His heart is very sure that his love is not one sided and it
is true. The songwriter realizes that his meeting with his teenage
sweetheart was an accident. Their new relationship begins with
romantic memories of their love story, a love that ran aground in
their teens. The songwriter feels happy in his body and soul when
he is reunited with his lover and tries to restart their relationship
and arranges to live together to form a family after separation and
in the end he realizes that his lover is a perfect woman in his eyes,
who he has been looking for all this time, and he feels that she is
his soul mate and is determined not to let his lover's love down for
any reason. The songwriter is a romantic man, full of flowers in
every sentence, and full of care and surprise. An encounter in a
long-buried love relationship can occur by accident. In social life,

55
this is something that often happens, even an encounter between a
man and a woman who was in love can end with a happy ending
where they fall in love again and have a romantic relationship
again if the conditions and situations at the time of meeting have
changed as physical. they also change (more beautiful or more
handsome), socio-economic conditions change (work and succeed
or have a lot of money), psychological conditions change (more
mature ways of thinking, wise, logical thinking, confident and
more connected in terms of talking to partners) , and changing
situations (established and trustworthy). This will indirectly have a
positive influence on social relations with the people around them.
Here, the speaker wants to invite his lover to knit love again and
build a household because he believes that his lover is the perfect
figure to complete his life in living the bitter and sweet life of life.
The figure of the woman he loves is a beautiful, strong, loyal and
gentle figure who is suitable to accompany his life.
3. Photograph
"Photograph" is a song by British singer-songwriter Ed
Sheeran from his second studio album, X (2014). Ed Sheeran wrote
"Photograph" in May 2012 with Johnny McDaid, instrumentalist
and backing vocalist of the Irish band Snow Patrol. The song is
about a long distance relationship between lovers. The making of
this song was inspired by Ed Sheeran's personal experience of

56
having a long distance relationship with Nina Nesbitt, a Scottish
singer and songwriter, who became his girlfriend at the time. They
were in a relationship for about a year and during this relationship,
Sheeran spent five months away from Nesbitt, three months when
he went on concert tours with Snow Patrol and two months when
he went on his own tour.

CHAPTER V
CONCLUSIONS & SUGGESTIONS
A. Conclusions
In every song there must be a style or figurative language which
has deep meaning by songwriters when writing song lyrics. Meaning or
meaning contained in the lyrics of the song there is a star meaning and an
explicit meaning. From the data above, the researcher can concluded there
are many figurative language uses in the song lyrics that the writer
analyzed in 3 song lyrics.
In the first song “Thinking Out Loud”, the researcher found kinds
of figurative language., there are: simile, metaphor, personification, simile,
and synecdoche. And the dominant is metaphor with song lyrics. In the
second song “Perfect”, the researcher found the kinds of figurative
language, there are: metaphor, hyperbole, personification, and synecdoche,
the most dominant figurative language is metaphor, with song lyrics. In
the third song “Photograph”, the researcher found the kinds of figurative
language, there are: personification, metaphor, and synecdoche. The most
dominant also metaphor with song lyrics.
After sum all of the song lyrics in 3 songs that the researcher
researched, the researcher found the most dominant of figurative language
in 3 songs is Metaphor. The toatal of Metaphor from 3 songs is 21
figurative language. So, from these findings, it can be concluded that the
frequently used in the three selected songs by Ed Sheeran entitled
Thinking Out Loud, Perfect, and Photograph, that the researched the kind
57
61
figurative language is Metaphor. As well known, that the researcher
studied romantic song about love, which is full of beautiful words that
describe the happiness of people who are in love and so on, so the
dominant figurative language used in the three songs is Metaphor.
B. Suggestion
Figurative language in this case has an important role position in
linguistic studies, especially in literary works, such as poetry, novels, song
lyrics, etc. This thesis examines the style of language in the lyrics of
selected songs by Ed Sheeran, entitled Thinking Out Loud, Perfect, and
Photograph. The author hopes:
1. For literature lecturers, this research can be used as an example for
learn about figurative language.
2. For students majoring in English, they can learn and add
knowledge about figurative language.
3. Readers can be more interested in listening to music or songs in
foreign languages so they are interested in learning them too.
4. For further researchers to continue research to compare, because
figurative language cannot be understood briefly, must continue to
be studied in some literature. To enrich our understanding of
figurative language and to get a more reliable justification, a wider
and further study scope necessary.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
„Ain, Qurrotul. 2013. An Analysis of Figurative Language in the Song Lyrics by
Maher Zain. Cirebon: Syekh Nurjati State Insitute for Islamic Studies
Anton M. Moeliono.2003. Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia. Jakarta : Depdikbud
Adkins, Patricia G, Teaching Idioms and Figure of Speech to Non- Native
Speakers of English, Moedrn Journal , (March, 2001), 123.
Bardshaw, Robert. “Figure of Speech”. Journal (January 28th 2002), 2.
Dewi, Laila Alviana. 2020. Figurative Language in Maher Zain’s Song Lyrics.
Ponorogo: State Institute for Islamic Studies of Metro.
Hornby, A.S. 2000. Oxford Advanced Learner‟s Dictionary. New York: Oxford
University Press
Keraf, Gorys. 2007. Diksi dan Gaya Bahasa. Jakarta: PT Gramedia Pustaka
Utama
Kurniawati, Nita. 2020. An Analysis of Figurative Language Used in Song Lyrics
of Speak Now Album by Taylor Swift. Kudus: Muria Kudus University
Laurence Perrine, Sound and Sense: An Introduction to Poetry, (New York:
Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc, 1969), 65.
Laurence Perreine, Sound and Sense: An Introduction to Poetry, 28.
Longman Modern Dictionary
Ma‟fiah, Imroatul. 2020. Lagu “Perfect” oleh Ed Sheeran dan “Marry You” oleh
Bruno Mars dalam Perspektif Analisis Wacana. Research Fair Unisri
Nisa, Khoirul. 2020. An Analysis of Figurative Language in the Maher Zain’s
Song Lyric. Metro: State Institute for Islamic Studies of Metro
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/song
59
APPENDIXES
60
61
Ed Sheeran Selected Song Lyrics
Darlin' I will be lovin' you till we're seventy
Baby my heart could still fall as hard at twenty three
So honey now
And the crowds don’t remember my name

62
Cause honey your soul can never grow old it's evergreen
Baby now take me into your loving arms
2. Perfect

63
When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my
breath
She shares my dreams, I hope that someday I'll share her home

64
3. Photograph
So you can keep me

65
I swear it will get easier, remember that with every piece of you
So you can keep me
And if you hurt me
You can fit me
And if you hurt me

66

67
68
BIOGRAPHY
Name : Zulfatun Maghfiroh Kharis
Date of Birth : Banyumas, 24 Juli 1998
Address : Karanggintung, RT 03/03, Kemranjen,

Banyumas, Jawa Tengah
Study Program: English Education Department
NIM : 17112210050
Educational background :
1. MI Al-Hidayah Karanggintung (2005 - 2011)

2. MTs Ma‟arif NU 2 Sumpiuh (2011-2013)
3. MA Negeri Sumpiuh (2013-2016)
4. Pondok Pesantren Nurul Iman Parung, Bogor (2016-2017)
5. Institut Agama Islam Darussalam Blokagung (2017-now)
6. Pondok Pesantren Darussalam Blokagung (2017-now)
69

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THESIS

THE ANALYSIS OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE IN ED SHEERAN

ZULFATUN MAGHFIROH KHARIS

ENGLISH EDUCATION DEPARTEMENT

FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND TEACHER TRAINING

ISLAMIC INSTITUTE OF DARUSSALAM

THE ANALYSIS OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE IN ED SHEERAN

ZULFATUN MAGHFIROH KHARIS

ENGLISH EDUCATION DEPARTEMENT

FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND TEACHER TRAINING

ISLAMIC INSTITUTE OF DARUSSALAM

Presented to the faculty of Education and Teacher Training in a Partial Fulfillment

ZULFATUN MAGHFIROH KHARIS

ENGLISH EDUCATION DEPARTEMENT

FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND TEACHER TRAINING

ISLAMIC INSTITUTE OF DARUSSALAM

Fearless is getting back up and fighting for what

you want over and over again…even though every

time you’ve tried before you’ve lost

Kharis, Zulfatun Maghfiroh. 2021. The analysis of Figurative Language in

Figurative language is the language used to express one's thoughts, feelings,

Kharis, Zulfatun Maghfiroh. 2021. The analysis of Figurative Language in

Gaya bahasa adalah bahasa yang digunakan untuk mengekspresikan pemikiran,

far, wish you all the best.

Banyuwangi, 10 August 2021

Zulfatun Maghfiroh Kharis

A. Background of the Study

We as humans cannot be without contact and interaction, which

language is the medium of communication by which people can maintain

their social relationships. "Language is an arbitrary system of vowel

symbols by which humans communicate," writes (Wardhaugh,1992:3).

Figurative language is the language used to express someone's

feelings by using a language that is different from the original. According

to Zainuddin (1992:51) figurative language is a term that refers to a

number of ways that people use language to convey their thoughts. It is a

way of expressing something other than the literal sense of words.

Parables, metaphors, personifications, hyperbole, symbols, idioms,

disparaging, rhetoric, repetition, onomatopoeia, metonymy, simile, and

irony are all examples of figurative language. Usually figurative language

Modern globalization has both positive and negative consequences

today. One of the impacts is to provide major developments in the fields of

science, technology, economics, education and also the arts. The

arts that have a huge influence on society. Music is entertainment that

might represent bad or good human feelings, able to express thoughts,

experiences, emotions, and beliefs, and expresses imagination. Therefore

own message and is different. Music has several classifications, including

favoured by the public, especially among teenagers, is western music.

Where in western music it is often found the use of figurative language to

convey the message contained or to make it more interesting and

heard or experienced. Songs are accompanied by more lyrics that have a

structure and a relationship between them, which has the impression of

Because music is better at combining sound with lyrics. In conclusion, the

song is an association of several lyrics that have a link between them,

which is always accompanied by music or melodic sound. Singers can

influence the listener's subconscious.

The study about figurative language, especially in the song lyrics

was conducted by reviewing some relevant thesis, particularly written by

entitled „Figurative Language in Maher Zain‟s Song Lyrics‟, Nisa (2020),

her thesis entitled „An Analysis of Figurative Language in the Maher

Figurative Language Used in Song Lyrics of Speak Now Album by Taylor