Infected

I’ve been running for hours, or for days, I can’t be sure. My frail diseased legs cannot fail me now, but I sense the weakness closing in. My world is closing in, the trees spin, I know I’ll soon collapse. They’ll find me, I swear they’ll find me, but I swear it’s not my fault. It’s not my fault.                      

This is a nightmare. My eyes deceive me. This is either a figment of my imagination, or some demented illustration that my mind has constructed in my deep sleep. I will wake up and be home, surrounded by light shining in from the brilliant morning sun, and I’ll turn over and smell the sweet fragrance of my love, Abigail. She’ll be awake and her enchanting smile will make me melt into the glistening sun that shines upon her face. Together, we will take in the morning’s grace. My canvas will await me patiently by the window. My latest sketch will be displayed and I’ll show it to Abigail. She’ll smile, but leave me to my time, and I’ll start to sketch.

Later that day, Abigail will hurry off to work. Past the food vendor, past the tavern, and past the newspaperman in the top hat, she will beckon the eyes of every man in the drunken old tavern and the envious stares of every woman on the cobblestone street. I’ll look beyond my dear canvas, to watch her go and I’ll feel so warm inside.

But slowly I now realize that I’ve been long awake. This is not a dream and I’m no longer in a familiar place. My eyes, which I swear betray me, dance from side to side. I see water. I see endless oceans everywhere I look, colliding into the falling sky. Behind me, there are men. These men are sick and diseased. They’re rotting away and spitting blood onto the golden sand. Monsters. I feel sick. Where am I? Where’s Abigail? Who are these men? I’m so sick. I feel myself coughing in fits, I have no control. Blood runs freely from my mouth and onto my bare feet. Overcome with hysteria, my eyesight disappears and I crumble. 

I awake for a second time, instantly alert. I’m in a tent.  There is no Abigail; there is no warm sun, no delightful fragrance, but I’m reminded I must stay calm. I rise from where I lay and find a note on my chest. I’m aware that the note will reveal everything that does not make sense. It will reveal my worst nightmares, but even so, I feel my trembling fingers unraveling the note that will crush my already unraveled life.

I struggle to contain my nerves, my fingers twitch, sweat cascades down my face; I am not ready for this,

“Dear subject 106,

          You are unfortunately infected. You are infected with a disease that is extremely contagious and we are unable to cure it at this time. You have been exiled on a remote island with the other subjects until we can find a way to bring you home.”

The blood. The blood I’d coughed up before I’d passed out, the blood I’d seen running down those men, it’s Blood flood, it must be. I’d seen Abigail’s papers that talked about this Blood flood sickness. She’s been so busy, working overtime, trying to find a cure.  Day in and day out, I’ve seen her eyes grow bloodshot; reflecting sleepless nights. She still never looked so beautiful. I miss her.

Suddenly aware that I’m a sick man, in the presence of sick men, I am overcome with the impossible truth that stares me in the eyes. But I am no longer terrified to the point of fainting. I climb to my unstable feet and set out to explore my new home.

I wander into daunting lands ahead not knowing what to expect. I soon spot a group of tents near the shore of a falsely breathtaking sea. As I approach, I’m tentative and nervous, but I march on towards the beach of disease. Some men stir and look my way; I freeze tempted to turn back. They all stare, some men who had been walking nearby stop to stare. I can do nothing but continue to where I was headed. The men greet me and I notice the weakness and bony figures. One man, a bearded man named Phillip, tells me that he’s expecting to die very soon. As I look at him, I can almost see him wasting away, parts of him slipping away with the wind and into the ocean.

Another man alerts me of some men on the island, “See those men over there”, said this dying man, “They’re what we call Wanderers. They’ve lost a bit of their minds being marooned on this Island. We stay away from them. You seem like you’re okay, why don’t you move your tent over here?” I accept his advice and I feel warmth knowing that these men are friendly at least.

“My eyes open to another day of hell in this soulless land. We are all waiting to die, rotting slowly. I wish I’d never wake up. Waking up without Abigail is torturous. I can’t bare this place any longer. Morning returns far too often. Sleep is my only friend in the land of the infected, the land of wanderers, the land where we all waste away.”

Waking up kills me more and more. I’ve been here 18 days, and each one has taken its toll on my dying body. Mentally, I feel stable still, but my heart longs for Abigail’s pale blue eyes. I set out again to stroll along the same old shore and I make small talk with newcomers who haven’t given up yet. We talk of what it’s like back home and I miss my sketches so I move on, drowning in hopeless thoughts.

I spot a ship coming in from the west, new victims of the blood flood. I sit down by the sea and dip my feet into the water waiting for the newcomers. When it arrives to the island, I sense something is different. It came in from a new direction and it’s a ship I’ve never seen before. I stand up and a figure moves from the upper deck.

Down the stairs and onto down a ramp into the shallow water walks Abigail, my love. Once again, I swear that my eyes betray me. Such a beautiful sight lies before my teary eyes and I crumble. She approaches me. I’m weak, crying, like a child, on the sand. Her graceful hands touch my infected face and I know that my eyes have not failed me. My tongue is now my weakness, as I cannot find words. Instead, she kneels down and I rest my head upon her.

“I have the Cure. It’s going to be alright”, she whispers.

I manage only but a cough of blood that I’m forced to swallow.

She tells me I’m going to be fine and asks where the other men are, “They’re over there” I say pointing. “I have enough medicine for each one of you. I’ll give you each the cure and we’ll be able to return to the mainland.” She says with a smile.

I suddenly fell that I need the cure right away. I tell her to inject me.

“Well what about the others? Shouldn’t we tell them the good news first”

“No. I fear for myself. Please understand, I need the cure now. Besides, some of those men are dangerous. I don’t want them to see you and go crazy, there are no women here and some of them would probably kill you.”

“Then we can go together! They don’t seem very harmful from here. Come on, lets go break the news…Oh look! They’re coming towards us!”

Something powerful takes me by storm and I feel myself strike her. She crumbles in a heap at my feet, and my world is turned upside down. I didn’t mean to, I swear. I peer to the wanderers who close in on me, and I pick up Abigail’s unconscious body. I run with her in my arms as fast as my legs will carry me. Over my shoulder, the men are speeding up as well. I enter the jungle and hope to find a place to hide. Everywhere is a mess of green and vines, but I frantically press on.

I find a small cave where I lay Abigail down. I tell her I love her, but it’s no use. She still doesn’t stir. What has come over me? Am I a wanderer? I’m so selfish. Will the wanderers kill me? I know some have guns. I’m so sorry Abigail. I’m so sorry.

The wanderers block the entrance to the cave. They’ve found me. I’m dead. One reveals a gun and I beg him to let me live. Abigail restored all hope of life in me just minutes before, and I’ve put hers in danger and I’m begging for mine. Yesterday, I would have begged to die.

I lung at his gun and tackle him to the ground. The others jump on me and a shot goes off. The gun is in my hands. Another goes off and the man on me I lifeless. The other wanderer struggles with me, but I’m on my feet now. I shoot but I miss and the bullet heads toward the ground. It heads toward where Abigail lay.

She lies even more lifeless than before. I fall to my knees. My love is dead. The cure is gone. I’m dying. I’m sick. This isn’t happening. I feel cold steel against my head. I feel my finger on the trigger. I feel nothing. Once again, I crumble.

Song for Fiction Story "Vestige" by Alesana

Washed on a shore enchanted lies and I am breathless

Struggling for reason

How could it be such a wondrous place is trapped in silence

Give them redemption

Time is melting away, I can’t explain but my eyes are begging to stay

I must say a sunny day helps to push the memories away

 I can’t imagine my leaving here... It sounds so peaceful...living in solace.

A perfect vision of ecstasy, a dreamy palaceHome to the soulless..

Time is melting away, I can’t explain but my eyes are begging to stay

I must say a sunny day helps to push the memories away

Walk along the shore of an ocean of rage.. Gazing in amazement at each screaming wave

Everywhere I look there’s agony and pain..

What’s the point of fighting when there’s nothing to save?

Time is melting away, I can’t explain but my eyes are begging to stay

 I must say a sunny day helps to push the memories away

Caution must be obeyed on an island of decayed..

SA #2 "Prophets" by Counterparts

Some people spend years searching for who they truly are. Weather they’re living as someone that they’re not, or they simply don’t know where they belong, it’s not easy to become yourself and establish a true identity. It may be difficult to stand out, but it’s something that we’re all capable of. The Canada based hardcore band, Counterparts, often uses songs as messages; portraying individuality and comfort with who you are as a person. Creating an uplifting message in “Prophets”, Counterparts utilizes forceful points of view, invincible mood, and all-powerful hyperbole in order to illuminate that everyone can “be what you want to be” and even though “others may tell you how to live” you must “chase your dreams”.

The point of view effectively shifts from first to second point of view, but in an assertive way. The start of the song is in second person point of view, “Others may tell you how to live/but I can assure you that your life is in your own hands”. Paired with lines like, “Anyone can follow blindly/but it’s up to you to rise above the masses” the speaker is telling listeners directly and forcefully that in the end, a person’s life is up to them and them only. The speaker may be dominant and almost punchy, but he shifts from second to first with “You cannot lead us from our path”. Instead of an almost overwhelming message being thrown violently on the listener, the shift reveals that the speaker is on the reader’s side by using the word “us”. Furthermore, a sense of togetherness is reestablished a couple lines later, “And all the force in the world cannot make us falter”. Here, the speaker’s assertive voice is shown true as someone that simply wants listeners to know that they have strength no matter what. Finally, the use of the word “us” is dropped and replaced by “I”, “I know exactly who I am”. The speaker finally shows that he is proud of who he is and that he wants listeners to feel the same way.

The mood conveyed by Counterparts is one of indestructibility, which correlates nicely with the confident point of view. The mood is overall very confident, proud, and invincible with previously mentioned lines like “It’s up to you to rise above the masses”. The word “rise” is used to show the speakers growing hope. Meanwhile, “the masses” are representative of everyone who blends in and are accepted in society. The speaker is encouraging being different, standing out, and individuality.  Later on, he states, “We are all prophets in the making/and our legacies are beginning to unfold”. Words like Legacies and prophets give a feeling of strength to listeners who may be questioning their purpose. Also, the lines repeated for emphasis at the end are “I know exactly who I am/and I know exactly what I will become”. Confidence is key in the speaker’s mood here, as he knows “exactly” who he is and knows “exactly” what his future holds. The mood of the speaker is extremely uplifting to listeners to say the least.

The exaggerations used in “Prophets” fit well with the message the song displays. They have a larger than life aspect to them, “But I can assure you your life is in your own hands/and you can mold it into any shape you want” is representative of making choices and choosing paths that are right for you. The speaker uses hyperbole to point out the persons control of their life, and ultimately they’re happiness.  The lines, “We are weighed down by our own ambitions/and all the force in the world cannot make us falter” are amplified in order to show the speakers strength. His confidence and pride are showcased throughout the entire song, but the exaggerations add to the effectiveness of the song.

We all have an identity waiting out there for us. Each and every one of us is unique in our own ways, but only some are confidant with who they truly are. Society is strict with radical people and being “normal” is something people want in their lives. Counterparts argue against “the masses” in their song “Prophets”. They send a positive message of individuality and self-confidence through the eyes of someone who is proud of who they are, and they encourage us to “chase our dreams”.

Song selection for SA2 "Prophets" by Counterparts

Prophets by Counterparts

Others may tell you how to live
But I can assure that your life is in your own hands. 
And you can mold it into any shape you want. 
Though you must have faith while you're searching for the answers 
That we're all longing for. 
And we are left to salvage for our aspirations. 
Be what you want to be, 
And leave the rest behind you. 
Anyone can follow blindly, 
But it's up to you to rise above the masses, 
And chase your dreams, 
Because they will soon become reality. 
You cannot lead us from our path, 
As we are weighed down by our ambitions. 
And all the force in the world cannot make us falter. 
We are all prophets in the making, 
And our legacies are beginning to unfold. 
I will not go to my grave yearning for what "could have" been." 
I know exactly who I am, 
And i know exactly what I will become

Song Analyses #1

Song Analyses 1

            Dark music usually portrays dark messages in its songs. Whether it’s death, failure, or heartbreak, hardcore music is home to depressing lyrics. However, some bands send positive messages beneath the depths of the seemingly solemn surface. Fittingly, the band Dress the Part does just this in there song “The Surface”. Shifting from negative to positive, in “Surfacing” Dress the Part uses oceanic symbolism and intense hyperbole in order to convey to message that “together we can find the way” and “overcome the ocean”.

            The message Dress the part aims for is one of hope and conquering. The message is aided greatly by oceanic symbolism. The song takes form as a journey from, “the depths beneath a violent sea” to the last line of the song, “to break through the waves”. These depths are symbolic of a negative dark place that the narrator wants to escape, where as “to taste the light is all I desire” symbolizes their need for light and comfort. Oceanic scenes of “setting sail” are brought up later as the narrator seems to get closer to their goal. The final lines of the song sum up the oceanic symbolism, “from the deepest sea and the darkest days/we will return to golden rays/overcome the ocean/to break through the waves”. The ocean is used to represent the subjects’ journey from dark to light, which is translated as from depression to happiness.

Hyperbole is a prominent device used throughout the song. With intense imagery,  “To taste the light is all I desire/for my frozen insides to burn with fire”, Dress the Part creates an epic scene of struggle. The narrator expresses how they want “to burn away my weakness” and “burn away my past”.  The narrator doesn’t literately want to “burn” away these things as much as they want to leave them behind. In the beginning of the song lines such as “the world is cold, I reach for the sun/thousands of miles above me”, are exaggerated to express the impossibility of overcoming something so great. The narrators struggle is greatly illuminated by the exaggerations.

As humans, we will all face a dark situation, one that is seemingly impossible to defeat. Dress the Part argues that anyone can indeed conquer this situation by using the vast ocean as the obstacle in the way of the narrator. Nothing is greater than the ocean and along with intense hyperbole to create a dramatic mission for success, Dress the Part aims to lift sprits as they say “together we can find the way”.

Irony SA for "Funny the Way It Is"

Everyday life is so much different to each and every person. Whether it’s the amount of money the have, their job, their living conditions, their family, or their relationships, everyone experiences the good and the bad of everyday life. When someone is having the day of their life, someone else could be having the worst day possible, where as someone else could be wishing something good or bad would happen to them because they think their life is dull. In “Funny the Way It Is”, The Dave Matthews Band uses unfortunate irony in order to convey the irony of everyday life and how its just “funny the way it is”.

The focus of this song is on how a good day for someone is a bad day for someone else. Irony is used throughout including the opening lines to the song “Lying in the park on a beautiful day/Sunshine in the grass, and the children play/Siren’s passing, fire engine red/Someone’s house is burning down on a day like this” This situation, unfortunately, is very symbolic of things that happen everyday. One person is enjoying the sun, the other is escaping their burning house. Other ironic situations are presented later such as “Somebody’s going hungry and someone else is eating out”. This is an obvious ironic situation, which compares poverty to people like you and me.  Other lines use irony, but others are subtler, using juxtaposition to create a oxymoron, “You hear laughter while the children play war”. The scene of children playing war is much different than the words children, play, and war out of context. The children could be playing the card game, or some sort of childish game in their backyard, but the words still create a oxymoronic phrase. Finally, there is a situation that is so everyday, that it really is “funny the way it is”. The line “somebody’s heart is broken, and it becomes your favorite song” is so ironic yet so common. Most songs involve some sort of love or relationship theme, and a good percentage are written out of heartbreak. Many of these songs are our favorites. It’s so ironic, but so common that we don’t even think about it. The Dave Matthews Band uses these ironic, but everyday situations to explain how we don’t think about things like this.

One mans pain is the next mans pleasure. Some people live with awful situations everyday, and some people don’t. This song explains how irony is such an everyday part of life and how it’s so common that most people don’t realize it. I think that’s why the title includes the word “funny”, because none of these situations happen to be funny. Another example is “On a soldier’s last breath his baby’s being born”. This is in no way funny, but the common aspect of it is unusual. Which in it self is an oxymoron, thw phrases “common and unusual” next to each other is an oxymoron. The Dave Matthews band makes us see how “funny” everyday life can be.