Song Analysis 2: "Desperation" by Miranda Lambert

Throw a dog a bone I'll take it if I have to
Go real fast like there's somewhere we can get to
Whats the use in standin' right there on the edge
if there ain't nowhere to fall
whats the use in hangin on tight to the phone if nobody might call

Desperation
There's danger in frustration
complicated words slippin' off of your tongue and ain't one of them the truth
I'm still desperate for you.

Tell it like a lie live it like a movie
Give a heart away like it don't me nothin' to me
whats the use in makin' all the plans that we made
if you weren't gonna go
whats the use in slappin on a smile for a face
if your eyes don't wanna show

Desperation
There's danger in frustration
complicated words slippin' off of your tongue and ain't one of them the truth
I'm still desperate for you.

Well it's too damn bad you didn't have a chance
to make me your best friend
you were too caught up in givin' too much up
and not doin' what you should have been

Desperation
There's danger in frustration
complicated words slippin' off of your tongue and ain't one of them the truth
I'm still desperate for you.

Miranda Lambert was born in Lindale, Texas and began to show an interest in country music after going to a Garth Brooks concert. At age sixteen Lambert performed at Johnny High County Music Review, which is the same show that helped launch LeAnn Rimes career. She ultimately gained her fame from becoming a finalist on the 2003 season of Nashville Star. Lambert is only the third country music singer ever to have three records debut at #1 on Billboard Country Albums.

Desperation is a song about a girl who feels like she has lost the love of her life, but doesn't feel like she can give up on him just yet. Lambert uses hyperboles and similes to express her underlying feelings for who she believes; is still the man of her dreams. She uses many hyperboles to get her point across that she still loves him, and would do anything in her power to have him back. "Whats the use in standin' right there on the edge if there ain't nowhere to fall," means she feels like theres no hope of expressing her feelings when he doesn't feel the same way anymore. She feels asthough she has no one to fall back on. "Live it like a movie," is an example of a simile. She feels as though her story resembles the tragedy of love that is often displayed in movies. Lambert uses repetition of "I'm still desperate for you," to get her point across that no matter how horrible he is treating her, she still believes hes the right one for her.

Lambert's underlying message of this song "Desperation," is that deep down she knows he isn't good for her, but she can't help what her heart wants, and her heart wants him. Using hyperboles was a more drastic way of getting this message across, exaggeration makes her listeners feel what shes going through at this point in time.

Song Analysis 1: "Do I"- Luke Bryan

Baby, what are we becoming
It feels just like we’re always running
Rolling through the motions everyday
I can lean in to hold you, or act like I don’t even know you
Seems like you could care less either way
What happened to that girl I used to know
I just want us back to the way we were before

Do I turn you on at all when I kiss you baby,
Does the sight of me wanting you drive you crazy,
Do I have your love? Am I still enough?
Tell me don’t I, or tell me do I baby
Give you everything that you ever wanted
Would you rather just turn away and leave me lonely?
Do I just need to give up and get on with my life
Baby, do I

Remember when we didn’t have nothing
But a perfect simple kind of loving
Baby those sure were the days
There was a time our love ran wild and free
But now I’m second guessing everything I see

Do I turn you on at all when I kiss you baby
Does the sight of me wanting you drive you crazy
Do I have your love, am I still enough
Tell me don’t I, or tell me do I baby
Give you everything that you ever wanted
Would you rather just turn away and leave me lonely
Do I just need to give up and get on with my life
Baby, do I

Still give you what you need
Still take your breath away
Or light up the spark way down deep, baby do I

Do I turn you on at all when I kiss you baby
Does the sight of me wanting you drive you crazy
Do I have your love, am I still enough
Tell me don’t I, or tell me do I baby
Give you everything that you ever wanted
Would you rather just turn away and leave me lonely
Do I just need to give up and get on with my life

Tell me baby do I get one more try
Do I, baby do I


At the young age of 14, Luke's parents bought him his first guitar. After he learned how to play, he joined various local bands and began to play in local clubs. At age 16, he began to write his first songs. His major influences were George Strait, Conway Twitty, Ronnie Milsap, Alan Jackson, and Merle Haggard. He attended Georgia Southern University, where he continued to work on his singing and song writing skills. He even self- released an album, which he would sell at shows. "Do I" is a song co- written with Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley of the group Lady Antebellum. This song is about a couple that doesn’t know if their worlds are jiving together or where their relationship is going.


Throughout the song, they're are many poetic devices to exemplify the unanswered questions about their relationship. This song is told in the first person point of view. He expresses everything using "I", "Do I turn you on at all when I kiss you baby?" In the second stanza Luke says, "Tell me dont I, or tell me do I baby give you everything that you ever wanted." This is an example of a hyperbole. No one can give anyone everything that they've ever wanted, no matter how hard they try. The fourth line in the third stanza says, "There was a time our love ran wild and free." This is an example of personification. Love isn't a living thing, therefore it cannot run wild and free like horses would. These poetic devices are key in exemplifying the overall theme; desperation for love. 


The line "Still take your breath away," is also an hyperbole. He never actually took her breathe away, they were just once in love and she was in "awe" of him.  "Or light up the spark way down deep," is an example of imagery. You can picture fireworks in your head when you listen to that line, but in reality he actually means their chemistry. Luke's use of hyperbole, personification and imagery all add to the real meaning of "Do I." Luke Bryan is an amazing song writer and his use of repitition helps get explain his idea of confusion and heartbreak. The meaning and the corresponding lyrics, leave a lasting impression that you will remember.