Language and representation

''When I look at you'' by Miley Cyrus

 

..'Everybody needs inspiration
Everybody needs a song
A beautiful melody
When the night's so long

'Cause there is no guarantee
That this life is easy

Yeah, when my world is falling apart
When there's no light to break up the dark
That's when I, I
I look at you

When the waves
Are flooding the shore and I can't
Find my way home anymore
That's when I, I
I look at you

When I look at you, I see forgiveness
I see the truth
You love me for who I am
Like the stars hold the moon
Right there where they belong
And I know I'm not alone..''

 

The verbs ''flooding'' and ''falling apart'' present a very negative image of destruction. Something that has been destroyed and cannot be repaired. They also suggest of the mental state of the writer and the emptiness which she experiences. However, the writer used an adjective 'beautiful' which shows a contrast in the text as it presents positivity and passion. 'Shore', 'waves', 'stars' and 'moon'- all these nouns are linked to the natural beauty of the world that we live in. Comparing the lover with these nouns presents his importance. A shore needs waves to make a whole, stars need the moon to create the night sky and Miley needs her lover for her life to be completed. 'Dark' and 'alone' present the feeling of sadness and loneliness expressed by Miley in the song. Dark is associated with the fear and uncertainty. A person locked up in the dark room will feel uncertain whether there is also someone else in there who can harm them or if they all alone. Therefore they feel fear, just as Miley does. She also compares her lover to 'forgiveness' and 'truth' suggesting that she would forgive him for whatever he does as she trusts him.