Entry #3: Song Lyric Analysis

 The Birds Don't Sing

       Welcome back to ENGrossing Thoughts, where we'll be analyzing the lyrics from the song "The Birds Don't Sing" by Clipse ft. John Legend and Voices of Fire. I selected this song because I am a fan of Clipse, a hip-hop duo (members are Pusha T and Malice) from my home state of Virginia. The producer for this song is Pharrell, another native of Virginia. This song is also of interest to me because it highlights the depth of the hip-hop industry and shows that it goes beyond surface-level songs about "the street life", drugs, and other topics typically associated with rap. 

    

(Malice and Pusha T) 

    The primary speakers of this song are Pusha T and Malice, with John Legend accompanying, and Pharrell and Stevie Wonder also making contributions. The purpose of this song is for Clipse to share their grief from the loss of their parents with the world. The death of their parents is the context behind this song, as they passed away in 2021 and 2022. "The Birds Don't Sing" was released in 2024. The song is intended not only for people who have suffered losses like they have, but for anyone who listens. "The Birds Don't Sing" is intended to educate people on the values of familial bonds as well as the grief process. The exigence of this song lies in the fact that people lose family members and close friends every day. Many people deal with grief and loss, and this song provides a new perspective on it based on their personal experience.

    Repetition of the chorus, "The birds don't sing, they screech in pain," is the primary technique used to send the message in this song. This repetition highlights the fact that people may display their pain in ways that other people might not necessarily recognize. They compare themselves to birds, stating that while people recognize it as birdsong and typically associate it with positive thoughts and feelings, they're actually crying out in pain. They want this repetition to show people that how people cope isn't always going to display itself in an openly somber way. They purposely create a solemn atmosphere to highlight the depth of their emotions as they recall losing their parents and some of the moments throughout their lives that stood out to them. The outro by Stevie Wonder speaks directly to the listener, an intentional choice to truly grab their attention and leave them with a message to take with them. He said,

"Remember those who lost their mothers and fathers
And make sure that every single moment that you have with them
You show them love
You show them love
You'll see"

This is a direct call to the listener, asking them to cherish the moments they have with their friends and family who have lost their parents. He's asking them to show them love and support because it can help their mental health in unimaginable ways.

    The tone of the song is depressing and distressing. It's meant to capture the difficult subject of losing one's parents and how it negatively impacts the heart and mind. The tone embodies the topic and the message of being there for your friends and family. It is very serious and sad, and the tone is steady throughout the song.

    This concludes my analysis of "The Birds Don't Sing" by Clipse. I'll see you next time on ENGrossing Thoughts.