Live Metaphor The Classifications of Metaphors
to analyse how the metaphoric expression is related to the metaporical meaning. As long as the idiom is a common-heard, the listeners directly
know the meaning of the expression. So, from the Co
ldplay’s song lyric ‘For you, I’d wait till kingdom comes’ means the person is willing to wait for someone until the end of
the world or forever. Unfortunately, human’s existence is limited by the
age, so the meaning of the expression in the lyrics becomes the person who waits until he dies.
a. Lexical meaning:
Till kingdom comes till the end of the world
Signifier Signified
b. Metaphorical meaning:
Till kingdom comes
Till the end of the world Till the end of
someone’s life c.
Semantic properties of ‘Till kingdom comes’: - physical
Lexical= + forever
+ waiting + physical
Metaphorical= + forever
+ waiting
2. Coldplay’s Swallowed in the Sea - You put me on a shelf and kept me
for your self This song tells about a couple in their relationship life. Their
relationship experience many ups and downs along the journey. One of their fights is told in this song and it is about how they react to the problem
which they are facing with. This song also tells one of the lovers’
treatment to the partner. In the end, they realize that they have and need each other.
The metaphoric expression ‘put me on a shelf’ is an example of dead metaphor which is formed as a common idioms. According to Cambridge
Dictionary of American Idioms 2003, put somebody on the shelf means to cause someone not to be available. In Coldplay’s Swallowed in the Sea,
shelf is used to keep a human. It is related to the second metaphorical expression, kept me for yourself. According tothe same source, the
expression means introducing something that is meant to be a secret. ‘Keep’ also shows possessive characteristic by seeing the meaning to hold
or retain in one’s possession or hold as one’s own.
Lexically, according to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary
2010, shelf means a flat board, made of wood, metal, glass, and fixed to the wall or forming part of a cupboard. It is usually used to keep books,
plates, or things related to display. While in the same dictionary, keep means to stay in a particular condition or position.
The lyrics ‘you put me on a shelf and kept me for yourself’ in Coldplay’s Swallowed in the Sea means a person who is being treated
possessive by someone until he or she is not able to socialize. This analysis prevents listeners define the metaphoric expression as a person
who is kept on a shelf or a cupboard. a.
Lexical meaning: Put me on a shelf
Put me in a cupboard for display
Signifier Signified
b. Metaphorical meaning:
Put me on a shelf
Put me in a cupboard Possessive treatment
For display c.
Semantic properties of ‘You put me on a shelf and kept me for yourself
’: + possessive
Lexical= + treatment
- physical + possessive
Metaphorical= + treatment + physical
3. Coldplay’s Yes - But night makes a fool of us in daylight
This song tells about a struggle happens in couple’s relationship which is been tested by temptation. There is a condition where they
ignore to have sex to stay innocent, but there is also a moment where