If I Die Young

IF I DIE YOUNGThe Band Perry

If I die young, bury me in satinLay me down on a bed of rosesSink me in the river at dawnSend me away with the words of a love song

Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my motherShe'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colorsOh, and life ain't always what you think it ought to be, noAin't even gray, but she buries her baby The sharp knife of a short lifeWell, I've had just enough time

If I die young, bury me in satinLay me down on a bed of rosesSink me in the river at dawnSend me away with the words of a love song The sharp knife of a short lifeWell, I've had just enough time And I'll be wearing white when I come into your kingdomI'm as green as the ring on my little cold fingerI've never known the loving of a manBut it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand There's a boy here in town, says he'll love me foreverWho would have thought forever could be severed byThe sharp knife of a short lifeWell, I've had just enough time

So put on your best, boys, and I'll wear my pearlsWhat I never did is done A penny for my thoughts, oh no, I'll sell 'em for a dollarThey're worth so much more after I'm a gonerAnd maybe then you'll hear the words I been singingFunny, when you're dead how people start listening

If I die young, bury me in satinLay me down on a bed of rosesSink me in the river at dawnSend me away with the words of a love song The ballad of a doveGo with peace and loveGather up your tears, keep 'em in your pocketSave them for a time when you're really gonna need them, oh The sharp knife of a short lifeWell, I've had just enough timeSo put on your best, boysAnd I'll wear my pearls

WHY THIS SONG? Song’s message is interesting

A young person’s death should not be mourned; their life should be celebrated.

Not about love, money, or sexMost new songs are about one of these

topics

SPEAKER Teenage girl

“I’ve never known the loving of a man/ But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand”

Recently deceasedDied in a tragic accident

Car crash, mugging, etc.

Seems very mature Isn’t selfish; wants her family to be able to

move on

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE Definition: words that are not meant to be

interpreted literally

“I’m as green as the ring on my little cold finger”

The speaker is not ACTUALLY the color green

She is referring to the fact that she is young, or new to the world

SIMILE Definition: A figure of speech comparing

two unlike things using “like” or “as”

“I’m as green as the ring on my little cold finger”

Compares the speaker to the ring she is wearing using “as”

They are both new/young

END RHYME Definition: words with similar ending sounds

appear at the end of lines

“The ballad of a dove/ Go with peace and love”

The words “dove” and “love” end with the same sound and also appear at the end of lines

CHORUSIf I die young, bury me in satinLay me down on a bed of rosesSink me in the river at dawnSend me away with the words of a love song

• Gives the theme of the song at the beginning• “If I die young…”

• Shows the romantic ideals of youth

• She (or he) doesn’t want to be mourned, she would rather have her life remembered• “Send me away with the words of a love song”

Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my motherShe'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colorsOh, and life ain't always what you think it ought to be, noAin't even gray, but she buries her baby

• Concerned about how her family will deal with the loss• Wishes she could reassure her mother that everything

will be okay

The sharp knife of a short lifeWell, I've had just enough time

• Death at a young age is unexpected, but she feels that she has lived a full life

If I die young, bury me in satin The sharp knife of a short lifeLay me down on a bed of roses Well, I've had just enough timeSink me in the river at dawnSend me away with the words of a love song

And I'll be wearing white when I come into your kingdomI'm as green as the ring on my little cold fingerI've never known the loving of a manBut it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand

There's a boy here in town, says he'll love me foreverWho would have thought forever could be severed byThe sharp knife of a short lifeWell, I've had just enough time

• She never got to experience love

• No one plans for death while they are young

So put on your best, boys, and I’ll wear my pearlsWhat I never did is done

A penny for my thoughts, oh no, I’ll sell ‘em for a dollarThey’re worth so much more after I’m a gonerAnd maybe then you’ll hear the words I been singingFunny, when you’re dead how people start listening

• It is too late to go back and do what she didn’t

• People pay more attention to accomplishments and wisdom once the person who did it is dead

If I die young, bury me in satinLay me down on a bed of rosesSink me in the river at dawnSend me away with the words of a love song

The ballad of a doveGo with peace and loveGather up your tears, keep ‘em in your pocketSave them for a time when you’re really gonna need them, oh

The sharp knife of a short lifeWell, I’ve had just enough timeSo put on your best boysAnd I’ll wear my pearls

• Her family shouldn’t be sad about her death; there are other things that could be worse

ADDIE BUNDREN Died at a young age

“If I die young…”

The book makes it seem like Addie is about 46 (not super young, but not a full life either)

Would not want people to cry about her death“Gather up your tears…”

“I would look forward to the times when they faulted, so I could whip them.” Does not show normal emotions; wouldn’t want

others to waste time and energy on mourning

ADDIE BUNDREN Was ready to die

“Well, I’ve had just enough time”

“He had a word, too. Love, he called it. But I had been used to words for a long time. I knew that that word was like those others: just a shape to fill a lack that when the right time came, you wouldn't need a word for that anymore than for pride or fear.” 

"The reason for living was to get ready to stay dead for a long time"

Image of The Band Perryhttp://farm5.staticflickr.com/4104/5114488006_6094e7d977_o.jpg

Song lyricshttp://www.metrolyrics.com/if-i-die-young-lyrics-the-band-perry.html

Definition of similehttp://www.merriam-webster.com(Other definitions from textbook)