Analysis Of Express Yourself By Colin Meloy

Although N.W.A. can be credited with pioneering a movement through their music, protest songs are often a part of existing campaigns. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “They invigorate the movement in a most significant way [...] these freedom songs serve to give unity to a movement” (Famous). Following the American invasion of Iraq in 2003, a new anti-war movement began, and, accordingly, many musicians took to their trade to provide the spirit of the movement. One of the songs associated with this crusade against conflict is “16 Military Wives” by The Decemberists. However, unlike the lyrics of “Express Yourself” the song takes a more symbolic approach in communicating the grievances the author, Colin Meloy, has with the situation and the Bush Administration. Initially, Meloy brings up the tragedy and struggle of being the widow of someone lost in battle. He sings:

Sixteen military wives

Thirty-two softly focused brightly colored eyes

Staring at

As mentioned before, the ability to draw out emotions is one of the greatest tools of language, and by being provided another person to visualize, the listener can easily the gravity of the situation, even if it is only being expressed through song. The lyrics continue with this trend by intensifying the human aspect of the Iraq War by describing the tears of the wives whose only consolation is a personalized letter of condolence. The encapsulation of feeling into words is among the most important aspects in the usage of dialogue. The literary device of pathos, an appeal to the emotions of the audience that elicits feelings that already reside inside of them, In methods of mass communication, the relaying of information to large populations at a time, provoking sentiment in other individuals is an extremely powerful trait. One that can not only launch a movement, but also spark