RHETORICAL AND LEXICAL COHESION IN "BAD LIAR"

SONG LYRIC BY IMAGINE DRAGON

Ahmad Fahmi Yusuf Ma'arif1, Rohmani Nur Indah2

1
Institut Agama Islam Negeri Kediri
2
Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang
[email protected], [email protected]

Abstract
Often we listen to songs to make ourselves comfortable and relieve stress, but rarely among
us understand what is in the song's lyrics. This study examines the lyrics of the song Bad
Liar, sung by the American band Imagine Dragons, by analyzing each song's verse. This
study used lexical and rhetorical analysis, in which each verse in the song was analyzed
descriptively qualitatively. The lexical and rhetorical analysis results on the discourse of the
song "Bad Liar" are four words of repetition, four words of synonyms, 3-word antonyms, two
words of the same semantic field, four words of sound parallelism, one sentence parallelism.
And semantic parallelism of 2 phrases. This research is expected to help educators who teach
in English, especially in text analysis. The hope for the next researcher is to research the
grammatical field to get more perfect results.
Keywords: lexical cohesion, rhetorical cohesion, song lyric

Introduction as a universal and effective medium can

Doing research assignments does convey the author's ideas, messages, and
stress students, especially in Indonesia, expressions to listeners through lyrics,
because of the demands of assignments tone, and how to present the song, so many
and thesis work, which causes them to musicians pour out their hearts through
become stressed. One solution to relieve songs. A song is a form of literary work
stress is listening to songs (Adhe, 2012). because, basically, a song is a song that is
The creation of a work of art, especially sung (Fauzi & Puji, 2018). Starting from
songs, has a purpose (Soedarsono, 1999), the choice of words or diction, language
where the goal is not only to be heard, style and rhyme are the same as poetry.
namely as an aesthetic presentation. Song lyrics will communicate
Songwriters create songs intending to several concepts, including telling
convey a message to their listeners. A song something, conveying the impression of
the author's experience, and generating is needed. Research related to discourse is
comments or opinions from listeners; even critical discourse analysis, also known as
music can affect motivation or provoke Critical Discourse Analysis.
listeners (Wang & Lieberoth, 2016). Song There are two ways to approach
lyrics are also full of the author's hidden language: contextual, referring to facts
messages or the author's heart. outside of language, and formal, referring
Communication that occurs through songs to facts in the language (Guy, 1989: 14).
is when listeners or music lovers can The way to understand this distinction
understand the song's message or intent so might be to think of standard features such
that the interaction of one's inner world is as constructing our minds from the black
formed with the outside world. The marks that make up the writing on the page
message contained in a song can invite, or from the speech sounds captured by our
provoke, and teach something to the ears, while contextual features exist
listeners. It requires a more in-depth study somewhere beyond this physical
of the song lyrics to receive messages or realization of the world's language, or was
understand the song appropriately. already in the minds of the readers. The
Examining song lyrics can be done range of languages whose treatment is
by using discourse analysis. Discourse is a formally referred to as text. It is necessary
series of sentences that are interrelated and to consider contextual factors to explain
contain language units most complete, what gives rise to unity in a language
most extensive, and highest that can be stretch of more than one sentence; it
delivered either orally (speeches, sermons, cannot be said that there is no formal
dialogues) or in writing (short stories, relationship between sentences in
novels, books, letters, written documents), discourse. Discourse analysis might
which have excellent and continuous suggest ways of directing teacher and
cohesion and coherence. Discourse is a student attention to formal features that
unity of meaning (semantically) between also operate across sentences. Thus, we
parts in a language structure (Yuwono, will categorize these formal links and then
2005: 25). Using the term discourse covers examine to what extent they will explain
conversation or chat and public speaking, why a series of sentences is discourse and
writing, and formal endeavors such as not just a confused jumble.
scientific reports and plays or plays. For According to Guy (1989: 14), a
the next researcher to know the meaning cohesive device or connecting device,
contained in a discourse, further research namely the formal link between sentences
and between clauses. Several ways of revealed that this song describes his
making text cohesive involve the household's condition being hit by
classification at the level of grammar turbulence, aka being shoved left, shoving
(Grammatical Cohesion), lexical (Lexical to the right, being pushed from above, and
Cohesion), and Rhetoric (Rhetorical being pressed from below, similar to when
Cohesion). This task focuses on analyzing riding a roller-coaster. According to the
the lexical and rhetorical links in Imagine vocalist, he can no longer pretend to cover
Dragon's "Bad Liar" lyrics. As additional up when everything is fine even though it
information, the lyrics of this song contain is a mess inside (his relationship with his
English metaphors that cannot be taken wife). After investigating, it turns out that
literally. If the translation is literal, it will the writing of the song Bad Liar involved
contain a strange and stiff impression. Dan Reynolds' wife, who is also a
Besides, there are no journals that discuss musician named Aja Volkman, before they
this song's title scientifically; most of them finally decided to separate. Besides, in this
discuss the meaning and meaning of the song, the beautiful wife also contributes
song in their blog or website without any voice as a backing vocal. That is the origin
scientific discussion. of creating the song Bad Liar by the band
The song, which is the fifth track Imagine Dragons, where researchers will
on the Origins album, is covered with a discuss the lyrics of the song through
more electronic pop feel than other songs rhetorical and lexical cohesion to benefit
on the Origins album, for example, from learning English.
Natural, which is thick with the aroma of Learning English currently uses a
alternative rock. Alternatively, if you want text-based approach (Ambalegin &
to compare it to the Demons song from the Suhardianto, 2020); learning is still needed
album Night Visions (2012), which is through language in context. Therefore,
equally heavy in its lyrics, the rock songs can be used as a source or learning
atmosphere of the Demons song is still material for English, where students are
very pronounced while the Bad Liar expected to respond to the meaning in this
arrangement which is filled with oral-literary work and then identify the
synthesizer sounds sweet to the ears but is sentences or structures contained in work.
very cutting in the heart. Bad Liar tells of a In summary, this study analyzes the lyrics
love affair that has become tasteless, leads of the song "Bad Liar" based on lexical
to failure, and feels that it can no longer be and rhetorical cohesion.
sustained. Moreover, Reynolds also
Method Data analysis uses critical
In this part of the method, the discourse analysis (Critical Discourse
author will describe the technical Analysis) cohesive device theory. The
implementation of activities or basic needs analysis process is carried out at each
that target the activity. This research is verse of the song to facilitate the analysis
descriptive qualitative research using process. More specifically, Norman
critical discourse analysis. Qualitative Fairclough's (1995) model of critical
descriptive research is research conducted discourse analysis includes three
to understand a phenomenon from the dimensions. The first dimension is the text.
research subject by describing it in words In this first dimension, the text is analyzed
and language and utilizing various natural by paying attention to vocabulary,
methods (Moleong, 2001: 6). The data semantics, sentence structure, coherence,
used consists of primary data and and coherence. The second dimension is
secondary data. This study's primary data the practice of discourse (discourse
are the lyrics of the song Bad Liar sung by practice). In this second dimension, we
the American pop-rock band Imagine will see the value of the content of the
Dragons, taken from the Origins album. ideology or understanding that underlies
Meanwhile, secondary data in this research the process of producing and consuming
is in the form of a literature review that text. Meanwhile, discourse formation can
supports the theory and data analysis of be in the form of background knowledge,
other supporting information. Secondary interpretation, and context. Discourse
data used to support the theory and other practice dimension, the writer will analyze
information about this research comes the interpretation and context contained in
from books and articles from the internet. words in the song lyrics. Data analysis
This study aims to describe the lexical and uses critical discourse analysis (Critical
rhetorical cohesion in the song. Lexical Discourse Analysis) cohesive device
cohesion is divided into three types, theory. The analysis process is carried out
namely repetition, synonym and antonym, at each verse of the song to facilitate the
and word families. Meanwhile, rhetorical analysis process. More specifically,
cohesion is divided into two types, namely Norman Fairclough's (1995) model of
parallelism, question and answer, where critical discourse analysis includes three
parallelism consists of sound parallelism dimensions. The first dimension is the text.
and semantic parallelism. In this first dimension, the text is analyzed
by paying attention to vocabulary,
semantics, sentence structure, coherence, types in a reference context (Halliday &
and coherence. The second dimension is Hasan, 1976), and collocation includes all
the practice of discourse (discourse types of lexical relationships that do not
practice). In this second dimension, we require a referential identity and cannot be
will see the value of the content of the described as a type of repetition (Halliday
ideology or understanding that underlies & Hasan, 1976). In contrast to Halliday
the process of producing and consuming and Hasan (1976), Hoey (1991) gave
text. Meanwhile, discourse formation can lexical cohesion a more central role. He
be in the form of background knowledge, observed that "lexical cohesion is the only
interpretation, and context. Discourse type of cohesion that regularly forms many
practice dimension, the writer will analyze relationships" between the text elements.
the interpretation and context contained in According to Hoey (1991), "the study of
words in the song lyrics. most cohesion is the study of the lexis, and
As a first analysis step, interpreting the study of cohesion in the text is the
the data was to reveal the types of lexical study of lexical patterns in the text." To
cohesion in the songs. According to describe lexis patterns, Hoey (1991)
Sumarlam (2003: 34), lexical cohesion is discusses various categories of lexical
the relationship between elements in repetition.
discourse semantically. Meanwhile, The second analysis is about
according to Abdul Rani et al. (2004: 129), rhetorical cohesion. Rhetoric itself means
in general, lexical cohesion is in the form science and art in speaking, arranging
of free words or phrases that can maintain word composition, conveying or inviting
a cohesive relationship with sentences that other people so that it is easy to understand
precede or follow. Lexical cohesion in and accept by listeners and is impressed by
discourse can be divided into six types, what they say (Sunarjo, 1983). When
namely: (1) repetition (repetition), (2) impersonal does rhetorical analysis,
synonymy (word equivalent), (3) impersonal analyzes how the writer
collocation (word sanding), (4) hyponymy communicates the argument (not the
(top-down relationship), (5) ) antonymy author's argument). Impersonal ask oneself
(opposite words), and (6) equivalence questions such as, "What strategies did the
(equivalence). Lexical cohesion can occur writer use to influence the reader?" "Why
in the form of 'repetition' or 'collocation.' did the writer use that strategy?" "How
Repetition is the repetition of a lexical does this strategy affect readers?".
item or the use of synonyms of several According to Thornbury (2005), rhetorical
cohesion is divided into two types, namely special role. Cohesive devices support the
question and answer and parallelism. reader's understanding, especially through
However, in this study, impersonal focus types such as synonyms, repetition,
on parallelism. According to Thornbury antonym, and the same semantic field.
(2005), there is a strategy in understanding This is following what Biler (2008) stated.
a text or listening to a text, namely by Even in young readers, the use of multiple
paying attention to the text's schema and cohesive devices has been shown to help
script. For example, by reading or listening them develop reading comprehension. This
to the first sentence or two or after is consistent with the findings of
reading / listening to the entire text, McNamara et al. (2017). As for adult
observe the text's openings, both in terms readers, the use of a cohesive device
of topics and related words and in terms of supported by the think-aloud procedure
subsequent text organization. has been shown to have implications for
the accuracy and smoothness of reading
Result and Discussion compatibility. This finding was mentioned
The analysis of Halliday and by Dahl et al. (2020) using a framework
Thornbury's cohesive tools will be similar to McNamara et al. (2017).
integrated into the overall data analysis In learning English as a foreign
because the song lyrics text is analyzed in language, students in Japan also show a
all verses. The analysis will also show the similar tren. Ogiso's (2020) research,
interpretation of the lyrics of the song Bad which observed twenty students revealed
Liar. The lyrics of this song are on the that high proficient readers could read
Origins album. This song has four verses fluently on texts that use a few cohesive
in it. This song (Bad Liar) tells of the devices. Conversely, the more types of
chaos of the relationship between the cohesive devices used in the text, the
vocalist and his ex-wife. Their inability to easier the reading comprehension of low
cover up existing problems hints to the proficiency level students is. Here the song
world that the love affair that is going on is lyrics of "Bad Liar":
fine, even though it makes them Oh, hush, my dear, it's been a difficult year
uncomfortable. And terrors don't prey on
For readers or connoisseurs of the Innocent victims
Bad Liar song lyrics, in this case, the Trust me, darling, trust me darling
reader as a second language or foreign It's been a loveless year
language learner, the cohesive device has a I'm a man of three fears
Integrity, faith and
Crocodile tears
Trust me, darling, trust me, darling

So look me in the eyes Type of Lexical Total Data

Tell me what you see Cohesion
Perfect paradise 1. Repetition Trust me, darlin', Now

Tearing at the seams you know, Bad liar

I wish I could escape 2. Synonym Prey, Faith, Paradise,

I don't wanna fake it Fake

Wish I could erase it 3. Antonym Enemy, Loveless, Faith

Make your heart believe 4. Words from the War, Believe

same semantic

But I'm a bad liar, bad liar fields

Now you know

1. Repetition
Now you know
In the first stanza, it is stated that
I'm a bad liar, bad liar
the sentence Trust me is repeated 4 times;
Now you know, you're free to go (go)
this word is addressed to his wife to
continue to believe in the vocalist. The
Did all my dreams never mean one thing?
word darling is repeated 4 times; this word
Does happiness lie in a diamond ring?
also refers to his wife. Now you know it
Oh, I've been askin'
was repeated 3 times; this word was
Oh, I've been askin' for (backing vocal:
addressed to his wife where everything the
Trust Me) problems, problems, problems
vocalist had done was revealed. Wild bad
I wage my war, on the world inside
is repeated 4 times; this word is addressed
I take my gun to the enemy's side
to the vocalist himself, where all the lies
Oh, I've been…
he has been doing so far are known to his
wife.
The Role of Cohesive Devices in the
2. Synonym
Song Lyric
Instead of repeating the same word,
The following is the role of a
the author uses similar words with similar
cohesive device in the song Bad Liar by
meanings called synonyms. There are 4
Imagine Dragons that will be reviewed by
items synonym or close synonym.
the author.
Songwriters deliberately use different stanza of the seventh line has the opposite
words even though they mean the same word wild in the third stanza of the first
thing to vary the song lyrics' vocabulary. and fourth lines.
The first is Prey, where in the first stanza, 4. Words from the same semantic fields
the second line has the word prey, which According to Adrienne (1969), the
has the same meaning as the third line, semantic field is a set of words (or
victim. The second is Faith, which is in the lexemes) related to meaning. The lexical
first stanza of the seventh line, which has field, the meaning field, and the semantic
the same meaning as believe in the second system are also parts of this phrase. The
stanza of the eighth line, and the word linguist Adrienne Lehrer defines a
believe the same meaning as the word trust semantic field more specifically as a set of
in the first stanza of the fourth and ninth lexemes that encompass certain conceptual
lines. The third is paradise, mentioned in domains and have certain definable
the third stanza of the third line, which has relationships. The word War has a
the same meaning in the second line's semantic relationship with terror, prey,
fourth stanza. The last one is Fake in the innocent, victim, gun, enemy, wage, and
second verse of the sixth line, which has fear. The analogy is that the war referred to
the same meaning as the word crocodile here is not a real war, namely a war against
tears in the first verse of the eighth line, a mistake he has made to make the vocalist
which has a lie. trust his partner. The word believe has a
3. Antonym semantic relationship with trust, faith,
Apart from synonyms, the writer wild, and fake. By admitting all his
also provides Antonym words in the lyric mistakes and bad behavior, the vocalist
writing of the song. There are three (Reynold) feels that he is not the man his
antonym items contained in the lyrics of lover (Aja Volkman) wants. Thus, Reynold
the song. The first are enemies in the only hopes that his admission and honesty
fourth stanza of the sixth line, which have will make Aja believe in him. "Trust me,
opposites in words dear and darlin', which I've been honest and admit all my
are in the first stanza of the first line and mistakes, so believe me" is the analogy.
the first stanza of the ninth line. The
second is the word loveless in the first Rhetorical Cohesion
stanza of the fifth line, which has the 1. Parallelism of sound
opposite war in the fourth stanza of the In couplet 1 word "dear" parallels in sound
fifth line. Finally, the word faith in the first with the word "year". Word darlin' parallel
in sound with darling. Word dear parallel reader. In ELT, researchers suggest that
in sound with year, tear, fear. teachers can use this kind of analysis in the
In couplet 2 words "escape it" parallels in classroom by using other types of songs or
sound with the word fake it and erase it. text to learn to use language in everyday
In couplet 3 word "know" parallels in life.
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