Bread And Water Song Analysis

There are many unknown artists that have created their own style of music genius. These artists are the hidden treasures of the music world. One of these artists, Sheila Nicholls, is unique and writes her own music. Her extraordinary sound is a mix of British rock and folk music. The lyrics of her songs are filled with a deeper meaning to life. Although she has a specific style, it relates to many people. In “Bread and Water”, by Sheila Nicholls, she expresses her lost love through the use of poetic devices, mystifying lines, and connecting with the audience.

The song, “Bread and Water“, is flooded with poetic devices. Some of the more prominent devices she uses are: objectification, hyperbole, and allusion. One line uses objectification, “You flow across me in waves of I hope to see you soon.” The line “I hope to see you soon” cannot physically flow across someone. Hyperbole is used throughout this song more than once, “I’ve kicked myself for months now.” Kicking yourself for months is an extreme exaggeration. She means emotionally she has regretted leaving or losing her lover. Allusion is a reference to an outside idea, place, person, or text. Allusion in “Bread and Water” follows along the lines of “ And everywhere I go I hear you in the words that I use, in my theories algebra and sums.” Nicholls is alluding to mathematics. Poetic devices in “Bread and Water” are plentiful.

There are a few themes indicated in the song “Bread and Water”. A noticeable theme would be lost love. Throughout the song, Nicholls sings about how she lost her love and regrets it. For example, in the line “It’s bread and water without you.” she is referring to the bread and water prisoners would be forced to eat in jail hundreds of years ago. So not only is this line an allusion and hyperbole, it is also the major theme in this song. Another theme is depression. Nicholls is sad that she is no longer in the relationship she previously was in. The last theme is “forgetting your mistakes”. To move on in life, one has to let go of the past. Nicholls is stuck in the past and needs to get out of it. “Your anchor drags behind me.” This line means that the memories of her past are haunting and weighing her down. The three themes; lost love, depression, and forgetting your mistakes are prominently used throughout this song.

Sheila Nicholls is not an extremely popular artist in the United States nor Great Britain. Her unique tone sounds depressing and forlorn but once the lyrics are read, then oneself might change their mind about the song. She connects with the audience by relating her songs to everyone. Break-up songs are very popular on the radio these days, so why aren’t Nicholls’ songs on the radio? It may be because of her witty verses and knack to break the rules. Or maybe it is that she writes her songs for herself or the audience. So much meaning is present in her lyrics that profits are second on her mind. Her songs may relate to the audience but her distinctive personality and style make her different than most artists.

In “Bread and Water” by Sheila Nicholls, the themes, poetic devices, and artist background make this song worth listening to. The hyperbole and objectification make this song mystifying and deep. The themes relate to almost everyone. Sheila Nicholls is inspirational not only because of her different style and sound but also because she writes, sings, and shares music for the pleasure of her and he audience. Money is not as important as the meaning of her music. If more artists on the top of the music world did the same, maybe the world would be a better place. Nicholls is a music genius and wholesome artist.

Backmasking Assignment

Back masking is when a hidden message is found in the backwards playing of a song. Reverse speech is the phenomenon of hidden backward messages in speech. Some would say that this is the 7th sense that some people have. A lot of backward messages are found in rock songs, such as the Beetles or Led Zeppelin. Back masking is also very controversial. Some think it is not true but others are obsessed with it! Back masking and reverse speech are found in many songs.

    Example #1: Stairway To Heaven By Led Zeppelin

    In the song, Stairway to Heaven, by Led Zeppelin, the message hat is played backwards is rather creepy. The real lyrics, “If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow, don’t be alarmed now it’s, just a spring clean, for the May queen, yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run, there’s still time to change, the road you’re on” but the hidden message is “So here’s to my, sweet Satan. The other’s little path, would make me sad, whose power is faith. He’ll give those with him 666. And all the evil fools, they know he made, us suffer sadly. “ As one can see, this finding is extremely disturbing! I believe that this subliminal message was on purpose because upon listening, the message was so clear.
   

    Example #2: Another One Bites the Dust By Queen

    Another One Bites the Dust, by Queen, also has a subliminal message in its interior. In the lyrics “Another one bites the dust, another one bites the dust, another one bites the dust.” backwards it reads “ It’s fun to smoke marijuana, it’s fun to smoke marijuana, it’s fun to smoke marijuana.” This is a profane message but when you listen to the song t is very clear and easy to hear.

    Example #3: Paparazzi by: Lady GaGa

    Paparazzi by Lady GaGa when played backward says “Evil save us, the stars above, above…we model it on the art of Lucifer.” When Gaga is singing “There’s no other superstar that I’ll be, your papa- Paprazzi. Promise I’ll be kind.” I think this is true because the lyrics are so clear!

Example #4: I’m So Tired by The Beatles

    I’m So Tired by The Beatles has threatening lyrics in its interior. When unexplainable gibberish occurs, it says “ Paul is dead. Miss him, miss him, miss him.” when played backwards. I think this was on purpose but it is a very strange message considering that Paul is alive!

   

Example #5: ...Baby One More Time by Britney Spears

    Baby One More Time by Britney Spears has a message hidden within it. Britney sings “With you I lose my mind, give me a sign.” But underlying these lyrics it is saying “Sleep with me, I’m not too young.” This is disturbing but i think it is a bunch of hogwash. When you listen to the verse, it is scratchy and doesn’t sound real at all.

   

Example #6: Beat It by Michael Jackson

    Beat It by Michael Jackson also has a satanic message in it. When Michael is singing “Tell you it’s fair so beat it.” He seems to be saying “I believe it was Satan in me.” I think this example is true because the demonic message was clear.

Example #7: Pokemon Rap

    The Pokemon Rap has a disturbing message in it. In the theme song, it says “Gotta catch em’ all, gotta catch em’ all, gotta catch em’ all.” The underlying message is saying “I love Satan, I love Satan, I love Satan.” I think this might be true because those words fit into the lyrics perfectly.

    Example #8: Hotel California by Eagles

    In Hotel California by the Eagles, the message is really strange. The lyrics are “In the middle of the night, just to hear them say.” It seems to be saying “Satan he hears this. He had me believe.” I’m not quite sure if this is true because it was somewhat clear but still couldn't be made out entirely.

   

Example #9: Nature Trail to Hell by Weird Al

    Nature Trail to Hell by Weird Al has a humorous message in it. While the song is playing indistinguishable music, Weird Al is saying “Satan eats Cheez Whiz.” I find this kind of funny, rather than demonic. But it is not very clear, so I don’t think it is true.

Example #10: My Name is... by Eminem

    My Name is... by Eminem is a great song with a message in it. When Eminem is singing “Hi! My name is...(what?) My Name is... (who?) My name is... (scratches) Slim Shady.” He is actually saying “ It is Slim. It is Eminem. It is Eminem.” Eminem seems to be having a personality crisis, but it is very clear that he is saying this message in the song. I think it might just be a coincidence though.

Myth/ Legend Bibliography

Robert Johnson:
1. Scotese, David W. “Did Robert Johnson Sell is Soul at the Crossroads?” The Mudcat Café. The Mudcat Café, 1997. Web. 22 Oct. 2010.
2. Snake, Doktor. “Robert Johnson: Did the 1930’s Bluesman Really Sell his Soul to Satan for Guitar Brilliance and Fame?” Doktor Snake’s Voodoo Spells And Conjure Shack. Wordpress, 2010. Web. 22 Oct. 2010.
Ozzy Osbourne:1. “Ozzy Osbourne”. Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 2010. Web. 23 Oct. 2010.
Abbey Road:

 Polidoro, Massimo. “A Myth that Rocks: The Premature Death of Paul McCartney.” Life Science. Techmedia Network, 2005. Web. 23 Oct. 2010.

Bob Dylan:
“Bob Dylan Goes Electric.” Newsweek. Newsweek, 1999. Web. 23 Oct. 2010.
Ohio Players:
“Love Rollercoaster.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 2010. Web. 26 Oct. 2010.
Sgt. Pepper:
Julien, Oliver. Sgt. Pepper and the Beatles. Burlington, VT; Ashgate Publishing Limited, 1988. Print.

Myth/ Legends

Myths and Legends

Robert Johnson Myth

Is it possible to sell your soul to the devil? According to Robert Johnson, it is. His legend begins with a stroll through the Mississippi swampland, a bottle of whiskey in one hand and a guitar in the other. Robert biggest wish was to become a famous guitar player and have an amazing life. So he decided to go to the crossroads, where apparently black magic breeds, and have a talk with the devil himself. They had a conversation and Satan decided to agree to Robert’s offer. Robert gave his soul to the devil and in exchange the devil gave him his dream to become famous. Is this legend true? All of a sudden, Robert Johnson became very famous and some think it was just coincidence while others believe the devil granted him his wish.

Ozzy Osbourne’s Taste For Doves and Bats

At one of Ozzy’s concerts a woman threw a supposedly dead bat onto the stage. The concert was at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines, Iowa. The Ozzy fan claimed the bat was not alive. Osbourne bit the head off of it because he said he thought the bat was rubber. The bat was actually living and bit Ozzy. He had to get rabies shots afterwards! “The Prince of Darkness” which is a popular nickname for Ozzy said the rabies shots were extremely painful. Anyone insane enough to bite a bat, living or dead, probably has a strange nickname like that. Ozzy also bit the head off of a dove but he was intoxicated while doing it. This incident caused a lot of publicity towards Ozzy. The dove was alive too! Ozzy’s taste for animals heads are just accidents, he did not mean to bite their heads off at all.
　

Abbey Road Cover

“Paul is dead” can be heard through out the Abbey Road Cover by the Beatles while being played backwards. This is linked to Paul McCartney’s well-being after a car accident. Beatles fans thought Paul had died but he actually did not. In the song “Strawberry Fields Forever” when played backwards says “I buried Paul. “This might be a coincidence but possibly not. When everyone thought Paul died, fans began to assume that the new Paul in the Beatles was William Campbell who won a Paul McCartney look alike contest. So basically the myth is that in some of the Beatles songs rumors of Paul’s death can be heard. This legend is still debatable but Paul McCartney did survive the car accident.

Bob Dylan Goes Electric

At a festival in Newport, Bob Dylan was a headliner for the concert and he only played for fifteen minutes. This upset the crown and they started to boo. Some people paid a lot of money and wanted to hear Bob Dylan play! All they other performers played for around forty five minutes so it was unfair that Bob only got fifteen minutes. He also was playing an electric guitar and that’s when the people started to boo him. Another incident was at a concert in New York. Bob played forty five minutes of acoustic guitar and when he started playing electric the weather got really windy and the temperature dropped about ten degrees! This legend is supposedly true but is still questioned.

Ohio Players: Love Roller Coaster

During the song “Love Roller Coaster” by the Ohio Players a scream is heard. The urban legend behind this is that someone was being murdered in the studio when the recording was going on. Ester Cordet (a model) had been burned in the studio from hot honey and the band manager stabbed her to death in the control room for disrupting the recording session! This may not be necessarily true but it has been a myth ever since a radio show host announced the story on his station. They decided to keep the screams in the song even though it may or may not be true. In fact, the band manager disclaimed this evidence and Ester Cordet is still alive! So, basically this may be a myth but it is not true at all.

Sgt. Pepper Cover

The legend of the Sgt. Pepper lies in the front cover. Many people believed that Paul McCartney was dead after the release of Abbey Road because in one of their songs, if you play it backwards it says “Paul is dead”. The guitar made of flowers, which is a bass guitar, is Paul McCartney’s. So, even though Paul didn’t actually die, this cover makes it look like he did. This was for publicity and it worked. Sgt. Pepper was a huge success, party because of the album cover! Paul is still alive today but his legend still baffles people. In this cover, I recognize the following: Paul McCartney (from the Beatles), Bob Dylan (famous singer), and Albert Einstein (famous for his intelligence). I am ignorant of: Marlene Dietrich, T.E. Lawrence, and Lenny Bruce. Marlene was a German- American actress and singer who liked to “re-invent” herself. T.E. Lawrence was a British army officer and Lenny Bruce was an influential and controversial American Jew who spoke his mind.