If I Die Young- The Band Perry

Signed to Republic Nashville in 2009, The Band Perry released yet another one of thier top hits "If I Die Young" in June of 2010. This single rose to fame becoming the top hit on the Hot Country Songs list, metomorphising to certified platnum promptly after its release date. "If I Die Young" is a connotation to the arrival and preparedness of death. Comparable to the threat of "[t]he sharp knife of a short life", the artist reveals her thoughs that"[she's] had just enough time", in her life. The lyrics are incorporated akin to a poem, with underlying meaning of her point of view in that "if [she] die[s]young", she will accept her death and brace her future in "[his] kingdom". Personification is efforately incorporated into the poem; "Lord make me a rainbow, I’ll shine down on my mother" in this verse the artists harmonizes her optomisim towards her death. She also adds "She'll know I’m safe with you when she stands under my colors", emenating the devotion of love she has towards her mothers safe keeping. The song is blanketed with allusions to heaven and the passing into another kingdom as the artist assumes that heaven is a well known conspet. This allusion is verbalized as Kimberly mentions that "[she]'ll be wearing white when [she] comes into your kingdom". Another use of a poetic devises is the cliche that "life ain't always what you think it ought to be",displaying the notion that the unexpectable usually
becomes the expectable. The audience is intranced with the use of imagery as she depits the picture of being burryed "on a bed of roses", delecate and beautiful all in one. With gracefully written songs and talent to top off their sucess The Band Perry has quickly risen to stardom. Their newest single "You Lie" was released Jaunuary 2011 and is a defenate achievement in thier list of accomplishments.


If I die young bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
uh oh uh oh

Lord make me a rainbow, I’ll shine down on my mother
She'll know I’m safe with you when she stands under my colors oh and
Life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no
ain't even grey, but she buries her baby

The sharp knife of a short life, well
I’ve had just enough time

If I die young bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

The sharp knife of a short life, well
I’ve had just enough time

And I’ll be wearing white when I come into your kingdom
I’m as green as the ring on my little cold finger
I’ve never known the lovin' of a man
But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand
There’s a boy here in town says he’ll love me forever
Who would have thought forever could be severed by

The sharp knife of a short life, well
I’ve had just enough time

So put on your best boys and I’ll wear my pearls
What I never did is done

A penny for my thoughts, oh no I’ll sell them for a dollar
They're worth so much more after I’m a goner
And maybe then you’ll hear the words I've been singin’
Funny when you're dead how people start listenin’

If I die young bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
oh oh


The ballad of a dove
Go with peace and love
Gather up your tears; keep them in your pocket
Save them for a time when you're really gonna need them oh

The sharp knife of a short life, well
I’ve had just enough time

So put on your best boys and I’ll wear my pearls

Dialogue

 "Order, Order in the court" The configuration of the cheery oak mallet summoned attention toward the judge, ceasing all chatter in the atmosphere. The judges bureaucratic voice maintained a peaceful aura, yet I still was on edge. The words that emanated from her fabricated phony smile ensued two things. One I was literally doomed and second we were without a doubt on the run.

 Trivializing the obvious,  "Wanted, highly dangerous" Hue's voice brought me back to the present. His rambling irritating the life out of me. "Do not approach!" A newspaper was clutched in his hands, crumbling under his animosity. His features boiled red, the paper one moment legible was demolished the next. Poor thing never had a chance. "I don't see why you even bother" I retorted "They just make you irate." He muttered something inaudible before pacing the 400 square foot hotel room. A heavy sigh came before me, this routine of banter back and forth was the only accustomed event in our lives. His expression told me he was pondering some overblown fantasy that was beyond his normal levelheadedness. His quick intake of breath, didn't catch me off guard. His excitement bringing along the inevitable as he began to meander. " How do you feel about Australia?" His gaze became mesmerized on my reaction. "No one would ever find us" The childlike hope that brandished him was impressive under the current circumstances. I interjected then, trying not to put him down to hard "How do you suppose we get out of the country". In a desperate state he began, "Well....Well, we could" His voice cut off, his mind probably searching for any remotely realistic idea."Or what about," he whispered "we could.-" stopping again he sat down on the withered, wicker chair, accepting the inevitable.

Warning! Side effects!

 Bullying has dramatically amplify in seriousness around the world, yet as one walks up the cement steps to Princess Margaret Secondary School, all worries and nervousness seems to be left at the door. The atmosphere inside the building mimics that of a secret society. Where teenagers loom the halls and the staff mingle with the undergraduates as if they were their own. In a school of over 700, the closeness and respect that seems to emanate from one student to the next is remarkable. Caucasians seem to dominate the school population, while other ethnics mix in to provide a tapestry of pupils to the euphoric school.

 We seem to be in the era where everywhere else Bullying and Suicide news reports, have become a monthly occurrence, the monstrosity of the crisis sending most administrators and staff into a state of panic. The opposite occurs at Maggie, where mustang pride floats through the air every minute of every hour of every day. Accountability, Integrity and Respect three words that these students seem to live by during the school day.

 In my short visit at Princess Margaret I was able to catch a few students in the hall to ask their opinion on where bullying stands in their school. Archie a future 2011 graduate was optimistic and reassuring towards my question stating “That’s not a problem in our school, if an incident comes up it will be dealt with and shut down before it can get serious.” However, his reassuring outlook did not emanate onto Rose, “There are certainly people in the school you go out of your way to avoid. People who can hurt you, but they are smart enough to do it when teachers aren’t around.” Her statement brought in mixed reviews on this topic, leading me to only one conclusion.

 While most at Princess Margaret try to avoid the topic, or brush it off as if nothing is happening. Under the surface there is a whole world of mistreated students and bullies who seek attention and ego boosts, bringing multiple side effects to gaining an education. We live in a world where nothing is perfect, yet I strongly believe there should be more done in schools to stop this behaviour. What is it going to take for things to change? Does another child have to die for someone to notice, or can things be done now to change the way students feel about school?

Dear mundane world:

I am your savior. My red hair burns away your sins. My blue eyes melt away any attempts of calamity by world terrorists. My smile depletes all plans of world doom. My voice is the reason you feel demur. My hands keep peace with the world. Yet I never miss breakfast.

I am faster than light, but then again I am the Light. Before darkness, I was, and again darkness did not comprehend me. My eyes are as flames of fire and nothing hides from me. Yet I still sleep with the light on.

I am the "I am". Smarter than Einstein. More creative than Van Gogh. Taller than Yao Ming. Even richer than Bill Gates, then again you're rich if you know me. My face is also able to change colors to a bright crimson red, when I am embarrassed or publicly speaking.

My mind parted the red sea. In my spare time I took down Goliath with my biology textbook. I built the Ark in less than 10 hours, filling it in only 5. Astonishingly this morning I was able to drop my blackberry in the snow.

My presence heals the wounded and makes the blind see. I can feed the whole continent of Africa with a basket of bread and a tin of tuna. I haven't just walked on water, I ran across the pacific, not even getting my socks wet. And if you drink of me you will never be thirsty.

One of my lesser accomplishments was creating the universe in 5 days. I rose from the dead after taking a  short nap, just in time to catch an episode of Glee.


I didn't just write the Bible, I am the Bible.


Yet I have never been blessed with the opportunity of attending college.

Retrospect

                                                         Retrospect                                                                                                              

My eyes adjust to the dimness I am bestowed by. I can faintly make out the silhouette of two rustic doors just within my reach, my eyes strain to recognize my surrounding, only to come up short. My fingers grasp the handle, the eroded paint, chips as I turn it. The pressure releases the unknown as the door sways open, a pronounced creak filling my eardrums with a weary feeling of impending doom. The ground dissipates abruptly from underneath me, I am free falling through complete darkness, blinded by my own actions. The wind slaps against my face, dislocating my form, from its natural position as I plummet through the abyss. My eyelashes take over, blinking to absorb the liquid that evades imprisonment by my eyes. As the vagueness of my facial irrigation dwindles into obscurity, I find the scene altered. The wind has suddenly stopped. Everything is at a standstill, I am face to face with the doors again. My hand gravitates towards the opposite door, the cool metal of the knob imprinting its texture onto my palm. For a split second I hesitate to open it, not sure what awaits me behind the aged wood. A beautiful vast maze of nature in its essence comes alive below me, ravishing and intimidating all in one. “Magnificent isn’t it” I turn my head, towards the voice, finding a women, beautifully aged with time. “What is it” I ask, curiosity lining my voice. “Close your eyes and listen.” My eyelids flutter shut. Her warm voice radiates through the air between us “Listen to the sounds of the waterfall, each droplet coming together, feel the excitement of the sun, encouraging you. The endless paths you can embrace upon. Take in the freshness of the unknown, the curiosity of the atmosphere.” “Why are you showing me this?” The corners of her lips turn up in a faint smile, almost as if she was remembering something. I look at her completely and utterly perplexed. Her eyes, as soft as the summer's sky watch my face as I analyze her confident poise. Her eyebrows flex and her forehead wrinkles in a mosaic pattern. Her lips begin to from the words that seem to cement themselves into my mind. “The doors coexisting side by side, in the same room yet world’s apart, grade 12 is a mere reflection of this. It’s your year, but you have to make the best of it. You can choose the first door and free fall through it, going through the motions yet never making anything for yourself. Or you can choose the second door. Invest a little aspiration, and get a harvest of opportunities at the end. Choose to live in the beauty of it. Enjoy everything about the experience, because the clock is always ticking, bringing graduation a second closer with each pulse.