I have deliberately undertaken in a lyric analysis of two of my potential songs for my A2 Advanced Portfolio Music Video. I have chosen to take to this as I believe that it will give me a deeper understanding of the lyrics of the both song and to translate my own interpretation of the lyrics as singer songwriters are renowned for their metaphorical lyrics complete with subliminal messages, which are open to interpretation, in addition I have taken to a lyric analysis to aiding me construct ideas and narrative or concept for my own media text.

James Bay ‘Let it Go’ Lyric Analysis

From walking home and talking lowsSeeing shows in evening clothes with youFrom nervous touch and getting drunkTo staying up and waking up with you

Now we're sleeping near the edgeHolding something we don't needOh, this delusion in our headsIs gonna bring us to our knees

So come on, let it goJust let it beWhy don't you be you?And I'll be me?

James is shooing the progression in their story: suggesting how the different components in their relationship (e.g. alcohol, sex) have changed or developed over time.

Somebody who sleeps near the edge is in danger of falling. The edge probably indicates the end of their relationship. They are about to break up.

Also the act of “sleeping” near the edge, might express that they are not capable of preventing the end of their relationship, since while you are asleep you are in a sense helpless and vulnerable. Even though they might want to return to a positive relationship, their behavior, pride, and/or situation make it hard for them to do so.On the other hand this might reference a conscious choice to sleep near the edge: choosing a behavior that risks the end of their relationship.

What they are holding is their relationship. In the past, as he described in the first verse their relationship gave them love, tenderness, etc. Now the relationship is not fulfilling these needs anymore, thus they don’t need it anymore. They are not getting anything out of the connection anymore.

The illusion of their relationship as a success is ultimately going to be their downfall because they’re already so broken.

He is asking her to let go of their relationship. He might be doing that, because she still has faith in them, or because she is still trying to work it out. These lines illustrate his change of mind/ him making up his mind concercerning the continuation of their relationship.These lines indicate that they have not been themselves in the past. They might have suppressed their personalities in order to preserve their relationship, to make living together possible. This might for example have lead to faking affection for each other, or not fulfilling their personal needs for certain things, for example freedom.

Everything that's brokeLeave it to the breeze Why don't you be you?And I'll be me?

And I'll be me

From throwing clothes across the floorTo teeth and claws and slamming doors at youIf this is all we're living forWhy are we doing it, doing it, doing it anymore?

I used to recognize myselfIt's funny how reflections changeWhen we're becoming something elseI think it's time to walk a way

So come on, let it goJust let it beWhy don't you be you?And I'll be me?

Everything that's brokeLeave it to the breezeWhy don't you be you?And I'll be me?And I'll be me

Tryna fit your hand inside of mineWhen we know it just don't belongThere's no force on earthCould make it feel right

Tryna push this

He’s suggesting that they should be more true to themselves and who they actually are, rather than what they think makes them work together as a couple.

In the previous line, James said this same line, but in the form of a question. Repeating it for this second time as a statement demonstrates his increasing confidence in his decision to break this relationship off.Instead of asking for her permission, he’s telling her (and reassuring himself) that he is going to be independent.

All of the violence and destruction they created between the two of them has him questioning the basis of their relationship. He’s questioning the point of them even having a relationship if nothing good is coming from it.

He’s not the same person that he was when he entered this relationship. Their relationship changed him in a way that he hates. And now he wants to give up because he just can’t live like that.

Holding hands is usually a natural display of affection that doesn’t require much effort. James relates holding hands to their relationship, and their hands to themselves as a whole.Because their hands don’t fit (metaphorically, not literally), their relationship doesn’t work. He has to exert effort to make it fit together, and it’s just not working.

He knows as much as he try’s to understand that they should hold hands and act like there going to be together, they don’t belong with each other. He says, “There’s no force on earth” meaning even if there was a force, they naturally don’t work anyway. As he goes on to say “could make it feel right” meaning he just doesn’t feel right about them, it’s not a natural love that they share.She trying to ignore the problem in front of her but it’s

too big of a problem that they need to talk about it

problem up the hillWhen it's just too heavy to holdI think now's the time to let it slide

So come on, let it go Just let it beWhy don't you be you?And I'll be me?

Everything that's brokeLeave it to the breezeLet the ashes fallForget about me

And I'll be me

So come on, let it goJust let it beWhy don't you be you?And I'll be me?And I'll be me

He’s suggesting that they should be more true to who the they actually are, rather than what they think makes them work together as a couple.