Life Aint What It Seems

John Butler Trio is a band from Australia led by guitarist and vocalist John Butler. Their music is a mix of reggae, country, and bluegrass. They are an eclectic roots/jam band. John Butler Trio has toured the U.S supporting Dave Matthews Band and John Mayer. They have multiple CDs, four studio albums, and two live albums. John Butler Trio has a soothing sound that is easy to listen to.

John Butler Trio's "Life Aint What It Seems," has a deep meaning if you listen closely to the lyrics. The song starts off with one form of the chorus. "Sometimes life you know it ain't what it seems," is the second line in the song. It is informing the listening what the song is about. This line is repeated multiple times throughout the song for emphasis. There is also a simile in the next line which goes along with the previous one, "It's like going to war to make peace." It is comparing life not being what it seems and going to war to make peace. War is a horrible event in many eyes, however we do it to make peace with the situation. This could also be considered a paradox. In the lines, "Like the old man out there he lives on the streets. And now he's asking for a dollar off everybody he meets. Never knew he used to be a millionaire on wall street," it is explained that you could see someone on the streets and never expect their lives before the way they are now. Thus the line, "Life aint what it seems." These lines are also ironic, a man going from rich to poor in a short time. The next verse is also ironic, "Just like that plane you're late for leaving without you. And now it changes all your plans and puts you in a bad mood. And the plane ends up crashing but at the time man you would not have a clue. That being late would be so good and life is strange this true." Missing a plane would completely mess your plans up. However that simple action could also save your life. "Life is strange," is also a metaphor meaning we cannot predict the events of everyday life. Life is unscripted. Within the next chorus there is a paradox and a metaphor in the same line, "Sometimes good presents come in bad wrapping." It is a paradox in the sense that good presents and bad wrapping are contradicting each other. The metaphor comes from it being interpreted as something other than presents and wrapping. The line is saying not to judge something by the way it seems on the outside. The allusion to the Prime Minister is seen in the line, "Just like our Prime Minister with his new policy," in the next verse. In the next verse, there is an allusion to Shell gas station, "Just like that environmental day sponsored by Shell." "It's like Bunnings saying they're supporting your community. While they're chopping it right down," explains that even though Bunnings says they're helping the community to be better, they are cutting things down which worsens it. The line, "Sometimes life you know it ain't what it seems," is a metaphor on its own. It is comparing life and the unexpected. As the song says, "That everything, you know it's happening, happening for a reason."

The General

Dispatch is a New England band made up of Brad Corrigan, Pete Heimbold, and Chad Urmston. Their music displayed the trio's three-part harmonies and college-friendly mix of acoustic pop, folk, reggae, and funk. Many people can easily compare them to The Barenaked Ladies. However, on July 31, 2004, Dispatch played a final show has a "thank you" to their fans for supporting them throughout their eight years together. The members of the band have all gone on to a solo career.

The song "The General" is about a general who was considered a legend in his time. The song is a narrative about his accomplishments. In the first verse, it is explained why he was liked, "that likened him to all the stories he told of past battles, won and lost." Throughout the second verse, it is said that he received many medals of bravery. However, he was injured along the way causing him to grow a beard to cover his scars. In the third verse and so-on it explains what the general did to earn his good name. The eve of the great battle he tossed in his sleep. When he left his tent all of the men stood before him. They stood "tall with their chests in the air, with courage in their blood and a fire in their stare. The old general told them to go home. The point of view switches in the chorus to the generals view. "I have discovered that this fight is not worth fighting," he says. However, he believes it is not worth fighting for the soldiers because he says, "I have seen their mothers and I will no other to follow me where I'm going." This means that he does not want anyone following him into the war because of the worry and fear of their mothers. He then tels them, "Take a shower, shine your shoes, you got no time to lose. You are young men you must me living. Go now you are forgiven." He is telling them that time goes by fast and there isn't enough time to waste it. The last line in the chorus is the general telling everyone they are forgiven for leaving. The point of view switches back to the narrator for the final versus. The men stood with their guns, not knowing what to do with their orders. One reason the general was considered a legend is seen in the lines, "The general said he would do his own duty bout would not extend it not further. The men could go as they pleased." He would fight on his own to keep the others safe. However, not one man moved and then one by one they stepped back and not a word was said. The general was left with nothing but the echo of his own words in his head as he prepared to fight.

I'm Yours

Jason Mraz is a singer-songwriter from Mechanicsville, Virginia. His stylistic influences include, reggae, pop, rock, folk, jazz, and hip-hop. He is well known for his clever, inspired way with words. Three of his major songs are "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)", "Geek in the Pink", and "I'm Yours."

The song "I'm Yours" is about a man falling in love out of no where. The line "I tried to be chill but you're so hot that I melted" is a hyperbole and a metaphor. It is exagerated in the sense that no one can melt from the appearence of another person. The metaphor comes from the singer explaining that he tried to keep his cool, but seeing the girl caused him to "melt" or fall in love. The line "I fell right through the cracks..." is also an example of a hyperbole and a metaphor. Someone can not really "fall through the cracks," however it is a metaphor for falling in love. It is about a man telling his significant other that he is theirs and that he has fallen for the little things she does. He talks about how he,"won't hesitate no more, no more. It cannot wait, I'm yours." He is telling her to "open up your mind and see like me. Open up your plans and damn you're free. Look into your heart and you'll find love love love love." This means that he wants her to feel the same things he does. Finally, he talks about how he has, "been spending way too long checking my tongue in the mirror. And bending over backwards just to try to see it clearer." This means that he has been spending too long on the little things. This song explains how he is ready to be hers.

Bless the Broken Road

Country band, Rascal Flatts is known for their heartwarming and soothing music. The band is made up of lead vocalist, Gary LeVox and guitarists, Joe Don Rooney and Jay DeMarcus. Along with their five albums, Rascal Flatts has recorded cover songs. Some to name are The Beatles' "Revolution" and Tom Cochrane's "Life is a Highway". Their fourth CD, Me and My Gang, sold more than 721,000 copies in its first week. Rascal Flatts was the top-selling artist of 2006 in all genres of music and they scanned five million units, meaning that 1 of every 14 country CDs sold last year was one of their records. Gary, Joe Don, and Jay have scaled unbelievable heights in the eight years since their debut. Many people would say Rascal Flatts has many inspiration songs that most everyone can relate to. One song included would be "Bless the Broken Road" off of the CD "Feels like Today". This song won a Grammy for Country Song of the Year in 2005.

Ultimately, "Bless the Broken Road" can be seen as a metaphor for finding true love. "I set out on a narrow way many years ago. Hoping I would find true love along the broken road," indicates that this narrator went looking for love a long time ago. The "broken road" is a symbol for life, and how sometimes its not perfect and it can be "broken." This can also stand as a metaphor. In the lines, "But I got lost a time or two, wiped my brow and kept pushing through," means that sometimes things in life don't turn out the way you planned it, but you can get through it and move on, or "push through." Getting lost on the "broken road" is like getting lost in life, or not having something go your way. "I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you," indicates that the narrator was not aware that this person in his life was going to be the love of his life. It took him getting lost to figure that what he really wanted and needed was right in front of him. Part of the chorus, "Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars. Pointing me on my way into your loving arms," signifies that all the people who broke this person's heart helped in a way to find his true love. A simile is used to compare these people to Northern stars. They lit the way to show him what he truly wanted. At the end of the chorus, the narrator tells the listener that they do not know many things, but there is one thing they are sure of. It is shown in the lines, "This much I know is true, that God blessed the broken road, that led me straight to you." The road that he or she "walked" was blessed by God in a way that fixed their broken life and pointed them in the right direction. It is displayed in the lyrics, "I think about the years I spent just passing through. I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you," that the narrator wishes they found what they wanted sooner, and at this time wishes that all the time wasted could have been spent with this person. It is revealed in the lines, "But you just smile and take my hand,
you've been there you understand," that this person is very understanding of the narrator's past because they too had walked a "broken road." It is clearly seen, that sometimes in order to find what is truly important, you do have to walk a "broken path."

"Bless the Broken Road" spent five weeks at #1 on the Billboard Charts, thanks to Rascal Flatts' fans. This song has inspired many people that sometimes you will wonder down the "wrong" or "broken" road, but in some cases that is what you need. Rascal Flatts has recorded many inspirational songs, but "Bless the Broken Road," is the one that made them famous.




Lyrics:
"Bless The Broken Road"

I set out on a narrow way many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you

[Chorus:]
Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

I think about the years I spent just passing through
I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there you understand
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true

[Chorus]

Now I'm just rolling home
Into my lover's arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you.

Camilo

State Radio is a band from Boston that mixes reggae, rock, punk and more somber, low-key numbers together. They are known for outstanding stage presence and frequent crowd participation. The band "road tests" their music, meaning they play new songs on their tours before finally recording a final version. As of September 2007, they only have two albums out, Us Against the Crown and Year of the Crow. Their song "Camilo" is one of their most well known and famous songs. If the listener looks deep into the song, they can truly understand what it is about.

"Camilo," is ultimately about a man and war. In October of 2003, Sergeant Camilo Mejia, returned home from Iraq and tried to be a conscientious objector, however he was rejected. A conscientious objector is someone who refuses to participate in military service on the basis of religious or moral principles. Sergeant Mejia was considered AWOL. The first verse explains the life of one man ending. "His eyes shut tight bracing for the blow. Resigning his life to the metal held, in another man's hand," explains how this man knew he was going to die and all he could do was shut his eyes and wait. The chorus is about the Sergeant Camilo, or the narrator not wanting to go back to Iraq, and not wanting to be punished for it. It is explained in the lyrics, "And from another land's war torn corners, to a prison cell in my own. Punish me for not taking your orders, but don't lock me up for not leavin' my home." Camilo does not want to go and fight in this war again. In March of 2004 he turned himself in to military authorities and received nine months in prison. He is telling the government they are locking him up only for the reason that he was rejected to being a conscientious objector and not because he didn't want to leave his family. "Doorbells are ringing with boxes of bones," explains to the listener that unfortunately people die when they go into war and then it is the soldiers responsibility to go to the decease's family and give them the bad news. The lyrics, "You tried to recreate normandy, But you made up the reason to fight ," indicates that this narrator is telling the government they are only in a war because of a made up reason to fight and they will not create a normal lifestyle again. There is a metaphor shown in the line, "And now red oil is spillin' down on the street." The red oil is a metaphor for blood spilling down the streets. In the lines, "Or is blood money just money to you? Is blood money just money to you," is repeated for emphasis. State Radio chose to do this because there is an important meaning behind it. Interpreted, Camilo is asking the government if losing lives of many citizens is worth the money they would get. At the end of the song, State Radio sings, "Camilo, Camilo, leave him alone, Camilo." The point of view is changed to the band's opinion telling the U.S military to leave the Sergeant alone.

George W. Bush once said, “I just want you to know that when we talk about war, we’re really talking about peace." In Camilo Mejia's eyes, they war is not going to bring peace back. Sergeant Camilo Mejia, a brave man in many's eyes(1), is considered a hero for not doing something just because "they" wanted him too. He was brave enough to stick up for what he believed in and brave enough to except the consiquences.(2) For his decision and beliefs, he had to pay a price. To this day there are more than 23, 000 US soldiers wounded and over 655,000 dead.

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Diction

There are so many different types of country music. Country/pop, country/rock, and southern country are just some to name. Every single artist in the country music field puts their own style into their music and lyrics. There is a big difference between the sounds in Billy Currington's "Good Directions" and Keith Urban's "Stupid Boy." In "Good Directions" there is a deep southern tone that is easily identified where as in "Stupid Boy" there is more of a pop sound. Both songs were recorded between the years of 2005 and 2006 and yet they have totally different sounds. In both lyrics, the diction, or word choice helps the listener identify what type of country music the song is.

Billy Currington's "Good Directions" lyrics contain diction that leads the listener to the conclusion that the song is in fact a complete, southern sound. The entire chorus, "I told her way up yonder past the caution light, there's a little country store with an old Coke sign. You gotta stop in and ask Miss Bell for some of her sweet tea. Then a left will take you to the interstate, but a right will bring you right back here to me," paints a picture in the listeners mind of a small southern town in Georgia. The word choice in the song depicts a small town in the south because of the use of the word "yonder." Asking Miss Bell for some of her sweet tea shows that the town is in fact small because it appears that everyone is well known. The words that usually end in "ing" in the song end in "in'" which makes the listener think there is a southern accent going on in the dialogue. The song paints a picture of the narrator as a "redneck, southern, young man." "Crunchin' on a pork rind when she pulled up. She had to be thinkin' "This is where Rednecks come from"" is an example of him classifying himself as a redneck which clearly makes a visual for the listener. At the end of the song, it is revealed to the listener that Miss Bell is in fact the narrator's mother. It is declared in the lines, "When she stopped in and asked Miss Bell for some of her sweet tea, Mama gave her a big 'ol glass and sent her right back here to me." There is also a clear punn within the word "right." It could be used in the sense of direction which is sung throughout the song or something that immediately happened. Not only does the diction in the song point out the southern tone, but the "twaingy" music goes along with it.

Keith Urban's "Stupid Boy," sounds more like a pop, love, song than a deep, southern country sound. However, there is still that country influence because most country songs tell stories and this one does. There is no distinct setting for this song, which means this could be the story of anyone anywhere and not just in the south. The diction in the lyrics do not necessarily make the listener think of a southern atmosphere. It almost seems like the singer in the song is the "male figure's" conscious. This male abuses his wife or girlfriend. It is indicated in the lyrics, "I guess you build yourself up so high, you had to take her and break her down," that he does this to her to make himself feel good. However in the lyrics, "So what made you think you could take a life? And just push it push it around," it seems as though he is questioning why he does this, making himself think he is doing the wrong thing. In the song, it is sung that she was "A perfect prayer in a desperate hour. She was everything beautiful and different." She did not do anything wrong but still got punished for it. In the chorus, "She laid her heart and soul right in your hands, and you stole her every dream and you crushed her plans. She never even knew she had a choice and that's what happens when the only voice she hears is telling her she can't," it is shown to the listener that she is afraid. She put everything she had including her trust into her boyfriend or husband and he took it for granted. She was never aware that she could speak up and act because she was always telling herself she was afraid of what he would do. Once she worked up enough courage to leave, she did. She realized she couldn't live her life being afraid. The narrator, or conscious, realized he made a mistake and just how much he did love her. It is shown through the lyrics, "Nobody's ever gonna love me like she loved me. And she loved me, she loved me. God please, just let her know, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

There could be many possible reasons for why a country singer chooses a certain tone for their music. Arguably, there are different types of country music to satisfy all needs. There are people who like country music but would rather hear more of a pop version. On the other hand there are people more interested in the deep southern, "redneck," tones. Billy Currington has a strong southern accent that can be heard through most of his songs where as Keith Urban has a strong Australian accent which does not lend to a country "twang."