I chose this song because I find it relatable. I heard it a while ago on the radio and I understood what the singer was feeling. It also seemed like a good song to analyze.
Supermarket Flowers – Ed Sheeran
I threw the day old tea from the cup
Packed up the photo album Matthew had made
Memories of a life that’s been loved
Took the get well soon cards and stuffed animals
Poured the old ginger beer down the sink
Dad always told me, “don’t you cry when you’re down”
But mum, there’s a tear every time that I blink
A heart that’s broke is a heart that’s been loved
You were an angel in the shape of my mum
When I fell down you’d be there holding me up
Spread your wings as you go
And when God takes you back we’ll say Hallelujah
You’re home
Folded your nightgowns neatly in a case
John says he’d drive then put his hand on my cheek
And wiped a tear from the side of my face
A life with love is a life that’s been lived
You were an angel in the shape of my mum
When I fell down you’d be there holding me up
Spread your wings as you go
And when God takes you back we’ll say Hallelujah
You’re home
You were an angel in the shape of my mum
You got to see the person that I have become
Spread your wing
And I know that when God took you back he said Hallelujah
You’re home
1. Determine the Subject of the Poem
The song is about someone whose’s mother has died. Which happens to mostly everyone, so many people can relate.
2. Identify the Poem’s Narrator
The singer is the one speaking. They are speaking of their mother who is no longer alive. The setting is the house because it mentions him, cleaning up the house.
*3. Note the Dictation, (word choices) of the Poet
– no unfamiliar words
– The words make the reader / lister feel sad yet grateful; sad for the loss of the mother, yet grateful for everything there mother has done for them.
– There are lots of words that the mother is being compared too, an angel for example. “You were an angel in the shape of my mum” the mother was not an angel since they are mythical creatures, yet they are saying the mother was kind and cared for others.
– The only cliches would be comparing the mother to an angel, many people (though not all) compare there mothers to angels. Also, the dad saying “don’t you cry when you’re down” because dad’s are stereotypically though towards there sons and emotions.
4. Determine the Tone of the Poem
– The poem is serious, it is talking about the death of someone important.
– Words that set the tone are all of them. The words do not come out and say that the mother had died. Lines like, “when God took you back” or “You’re home” those lines all tell the listener / reader that the mother has passed.
5. Determine the Rhythmical Devices used by the Poet
– The song is free verse,
– The line lengths change, but it seems to alternate from long to short throughout the song.
– The stanzas constantly change, 8 lines, 2 lines, 6 lines, 4 lines, 2 lines, 6 lines, and 6 lines. they are all even numbers.
– There are no rhymes but there is repetition of words throughout the song.
– The song is open, it does not follow any patterns.
6. Note the use of Other Literary Devices
– basically the whole song uses allusions, it is saying that the mother has died, without directly saying it.
– One of the main metaphors used is compareing the mother to an angel.
– It also uses imagery at the start, taking the flowers of the windosill, thowing away the day old tea, packing up the photo album, taking down the get well cards and the stuffed animals, +, it all gives the lisner / reader the image that the mother had been there, that she had just died. The person is cleaning up there mother’s home.
– There are lots of pauses, “I took the supermarket flowers from the windowsill” pause “I threw the day old tea from the cup” pause
– The title of the song is Supermarket flowers which is in the first line of the song, but not anywhere else. Since there are lots of mentions of the mother being and angel they could have called the song something related to that.
7. Determine the Values of the Poem
The song is sad, it elaborates on the pain of loss. Majority of people will feel sad after listening to the song. The song makes the reader more aware of what it is like to miss someone.
Building Understanding
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