"The Strays" Video: (start at 0:20): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLtDLdN62YE
"The Strays" By Sleeping With Sirens Lyrics:
1,2,3,4!
Hubcaps and ashtrays
I was born, but I wasn't raised
The big wheel, the black space
Tried my best, but wasn't praised
Hell is so close to Heaven
Hell is so close to Heaven
Hold on, don't look back
You know we're better, we're better than that
Lost and thrown away
You know we're better, we're better than that
We are the strays (woah oh oh)
We are the strays
Train tracks to the stage
Play that role, the one you made
Long nights and the worst days
Lived it all, but I didn't break
Hell is so close to Heaven
Hell is so close to Heaven
Hold on, don't look back
You know we're better, we're better than that
Lost and thrown away
You know we're better, we're better than that
We are the strays (woah oh oh)
We are the strays
My whole life they said I'd be nothing
But I'm something
And I would rather be the stray
Than be nothing to no one at all
Hubcaps and ashtrays
I was born but wasn't raised
Hold on, don't look back
You know we're better, we're better than that
Lost and thrown away
You know we're better, we're better than that
'Cause we are the strays (woah oh oh)
We are the strays
Analysis:
The title, “The Strays” makes the listener think of a stray animal. Stray animals are left on their own in the streets. They’re usually starving and sometimes growls or bares their teeth in fear of being abused again. The difference between a stray animal and the title is that the song is talking about humans instead of animals. Kellin Quinn is talking about people who were abandoned by their families and had to raise themselves. The first verse proves my thoughts by saying,
“Hubcaps and ashtrays
I was born, but I wasn't raised
The big wheel, the black space
Tried my best, but wasn't praised.”
He blatantly said that he was born, but not raised, he tried his best but he wasn’t praised. He had a hard childhood and knows that he isn’t alone. Others have had similar troubles that he had and this is him reaching out to these people. He’s telling them that yes, “we are the strays” and even though it's not preferable to be a stray, they are who they are. No one can change that because being a stray made them into the person that they are now. Quinn used the word, “stray” instead of “neglected” or “abandoned” because of the symbolism behind stray. That symbolism is an innocent child being metaphorically thrown to the streets even when they have done nothing wrong. When they try to do something that’s good, no one notices. It’s almost as if the world turns a cheek on purpose. This is why Quinn wanted the listeners to know that the strays are more than they allow themselves to think. That led me to believe that this song can be empowering to those who feel like their world is shattering.
On that, the purpose of this song was to reach out to the strays and other people who turn to music to help them through hard times. This song, in Quinn’s eyes, acts as an oasis for people who look towards music for mending their mental wounds. The song is also written to show these people that they are worth the world. Quinn sings,
“Lost and thrown away
You know we're better, we're better than that
'Cause we are the strays...”
The first line shows how the world treats the strays and the second two lines are Quinn’s assuring words to let the strays know that they are better than what the world thinks and says about them.
On Kellin Quinn’s voice, throughout the song, it is understanding and reassuring for the listener. To show that he understands, he sings, “My whole life they said I'd be nothing...” Having someone constantly tell you that you’re nothing will lead you to believe that it’s true. Even with that, Quinn was able to get through that and is currently trying to reassure his listeners, his strays, that they are something.
He sings,
“Hold on, don't look back
You know we're better, we're better than that
Lost and thrown away
You know we're better, we're better than that”
Just by telling the strays that they are better than what everyone else thinks is empowering. The strays will want to stand up and believe in themselves.
On a different note, if you can’t lose the title, “stray” Quinn sing, “I would rather be the stray
[t]han be nothing to no one at all…” So, even if the title won’t disappear, the stray can still be something until the title can finally vanish. Quinn also mentions that “Hell is so close to Heaven”. This, I believe, goes along with the title “stray” not going away. The stray feels as if they are in Hell. Life is really beating down on them and they are about to give up, but once they hear this line, it gives the stray hope. Hell is close to Heaven, meaning that even though you are in an unpleasant place, you’re not far from the most pleasant place. This can tie back to the purpose which was Kellin Quinn reassuring his listeners that you mean something and that everything will be fine.
I would give you, according to the rubric, a Band 3 Mark 8. I gave you this grade because you did have multiple points shown with a nice structure. However, some details could be delved into more. Some of your analysis was just a quote and then one sentence of commentary. For instance, " 'Lost and thrown away
ReplyDeleteYou know we're better, we're better than that
'Cause we are the strays...”
The first line shows how the world treats the strays and the second two lines are Quinn’s assuring words to let the strays know that they are better than what the world thinks and says about them."
This is such a deep song there is far more room to go way into the meaning, maybe even bring up how it is involved into today's society.
The one part that I would have chosen to write about was in the first stanza. "The big wheel, the black space." This reminded me of the famous Disney story "Sleeping Beauty." This crossed my mind because of the "big wheel". But this story can be related to this song by the age aspect. The first stanza of the song talked about being raised, and Sleeping Beauty had a curse her whole life. This can draw in different types of audiences and potential fans.
I would give you a Band 2 Mark 10. I felt your organization conveyed a clear message. You analyzed the text very well. You put the title of the song into perspective and evaluated different parts of the song to built your argument. Your ideas/arguments were very relevant and consistent. I feel like you overall wrote a very strong blog. I think you could have made it clear what styles Quinn appeals to in his song, in the first paragraph of the blog. In the beginning of song, it came off to me at deathly thoughts, from the narrator. I believe you could have taken it in this direction as well.
ReplyDeleteHi my young Padawan,
ReplyDeleteI would have to give you a band 4, only for the reason that your blog didn't exactly follow the prompt. Your focus was directly too much towards symbolism and the meaning behind the song. Which isn't exact wrong but you had failed to rhetorically analyze and have that be your main focus. But, there was hints of that here and there when you talk about the purpose behind the song and the audience that sleeping with sirens is directing towards to. But, I feel like you still could of went into more depth. I agree with Brianna commented that when you are offering commentary that many times it's only a sentence. If you had went depther it would really improve the blogpost as a whole.
"Long nights and the worst days Lived it all, but I didn't break" at this point Kellin is talking about themselves directly with the inference that the audience can make with "I" being sang. As a lot of the song is written from the first person point of view. Has the song is going to be written from a personal experience. The word long nights, the listeners can make the assumption that he spent a lot of time awake in the middle of the night, suffering. Which intertwines with the next statement "worst days" with shows that during both times of the 24 hour period that he is suffering, during the daytime and the nighttime as it's makes I think seem that it never ending. Which, indeeds adds credibility to his strength to not break during the hardships.
I think you did really good on this blog. You have a good idea and answered the prompt. You had a strong structure I would give you a band 2 mark 10. With a little more structure and more rhetorical devices you can get a band 1 ! Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteKayla, I would give this a band 3 because you have a general understanding of the song, your structure is good, and you use few examples. I feel that this is lacking in the analysis department, though. You provide some analysis but you aren't going any deeper than the surface (I did the same thing so don't feel too bad).
ReplyDeleteI feel that you could have spoken more about the line, "train tracks to the stage." I feel that he says that to show how, although he came from nothing, he has made a huge difference in the world through his voice.
p.s. you know I love this song, girl!
Very good job on the analysis i would give this a band 2, you did go beyond the surface level of the song but just by a bit, and I Know you can go deeper in this writing. the structure was very well done.
ReplyDelete