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CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS
This chapter is mainly divided into two parts. The first part focuses on the literal m
eaning of “M.I.A.”. The second part discusses the hidden meaning of “M.I.A.”.
A. The Literal Meaning of “M.I.A.”
“M.I.A.” is the song composed by the American heavy metal band, Avenged Sevenfold. The lyrics are written by the vocalist, Matthew Sanders or Matt Shadows
as his stage name. Talking about th e structure, “M.I.A” consists of nine stanzas.
The length of each stanza varies from four lines to eight lines, except the seven-line stanza. As in poetic term provided by Kennedy and Gioia 2002, four-line stanza
is called quatrain, five-line stanza is called quintain, six-line stanza is called sestet, and eight-line stanza is called an octave. The nine stanzas form a complete poem
which is also the lyrics of the song “M.I.A.”. The poem “M.I.A.” has one character which is the soldier. It uses the point of view of the soldier himself. The interesting
about “M.I.A.” is that Matthew Sanders has never served in the military. Based on the statements above, “M.I.A.” is classified as a lyric poem. It fulfills the
requirements that a lyric poem “expresses the thought and feelings of a single s
peaker, “describe an object or recall an experience without the speaker’s ever bringing himself or herself into it” Kennedy Gioia, 2002, p. 10.
“M.I.A.” generally tells about the journey of a soldier who serves in the war. Matthew Sanders employed deco
rum in order to suit the lyric poem of “M.I.A.” According to Simpson 1967, decorum means suiting the style to the subject.
Matthew Sanders modified the style and tone to fit the theme of the subject. The subject, or the theme of “M.I.A.” is war. As a musician, he combined the poem’s
mood and tone in order to be sung in a song arrangement. Thus, it is clear that his purpose is to make good lyrics to be sung. Therefore, his style as a musician fits his
purpose in writing lyrics or poem. According to Simpson and Myers, style is also determined by the necessity to make the reader see and feel. It means that Matthew
Sanders should consider his style in writing lyrics in order to make the reader or listener see and feel his writing and si
nging of “M.I.A.”. Thus, it is important for Matthew Sanders as a musician and a poet to suit “M.I.A.” in a song.
As mentioned earlier, “M.I.A.” portrays the war in the point of view of a soldier who is also the center of the song. The soldier or the protagonist starts his
journey in the battlefield after he sees a “carnage”. In the beginning of the war, he is quite confident that he is in the winning side, but the horror of the war shakes his
heart and mind. However, he is able to survive in the war and return to his country. The researcher provides individual stanza analysis in order to acquire a clear
understanding about the lyrics and its literal meaning.
The First Stanza
Staring at the carnage, praying that the sun would never rise Living another day in disguise
These feelings can’t be right, Lend me your courage to stand up and fight
On tonight