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A SEMANTIC ANALYSIS IN BRUNO MARS SONG

A. Introduction
Semantic is the study about meaning. Charles W. Kreidler (1998:3) stated that semantic
is the systematic study of meaning and linguistic semantic is the study of how languages
organize and express meanings. Its means that, meaning in linguistic semantic was very
needed for us to limit ourselves to the expression of meanings in a single language.
Yule (2008:100) stated that Linguistics Semantics deals with the conventional meaning
conveyed by the use words, phrases, and sentences of language. The dimensions of meaning
in semantics include reference and denotation, connotation, sense relations, lexical and
grammatical meaning, morphemes, homonymy, polysemy, lexical ambiguity, sentence and
meaning (Kreidler 1998:41).
In this research, the researchers choose literary works like songs. Song is any poem even
there is an attention of it being set to music. Songs have special characteristic in their lyric.
Song generally conveys message and meanings. The composer needs time to think, to choose
the words, to read, what researchers or he writes, to rethink, revise and arrange it. Then he or
researchers considers its effect on the listener.
The researchers chosen Bruno Mars song because his song is very interesting to examine
and researched in more detail. This song is about a lover feels if his lover leaves him. There are
many words in this song lyrics which can be analyzed. This study is limited on lexical meanings
and contextual meanings.
In conducting this research, the researcher used descriptive qualitative approach. The
qualitative method was a research procedure which result in descriptive data including written
and oral word from the research objectives whether it is from society or books. The researcher
studied lexical meaning and contextual meaning.
B. METHOD
The researchers collected the data by listen to Bruno Mars, which have been selected

before. The songs are it will rain, Run away baby, Top of the world. After the data was

collected, the researchers analyzed in the following steps. First of all, the researcher list the
lyrics. Secondly, researchers find out the meaning with one by one this word. Thirdly,
researchers categorize the word into lexical and contextual meaning. After this, researchers
explained the word meaning in these lyrics uses lexical meaning using Merriam Webster
dictionary. And then, researchers explained about a contextual meaning from the word in
these lyrics appropriate the context in the song. Finally, researchers drew the conclusion
based on the result.
C. RESULTS
1. Data Analysis
After collecting the data from Bruno Mars lyrics, the researcher analyzed them in
according with the research focuses. In this analysis, the researcher used one word to explain
contain of the term in Bruno Mars lyrics. Term here were word or combination of word
which are used by Bruno Mars lyrics in his lyrics to show his feeling to his lover to show
his feeling or love, there are many terms that have difference meanings lexically and
contextually. This research has a clue for to be know about one word and the other word that
wants to analyze. For example, the researcher give a clue for the first stanza was S1. And
then, for about line in the stanza, the researcher give a clue for the first line was L1. And then,
for the next word continued for this clue. So, the reader not confused to read this research.

a. The Analysis of It Will Rain Song by Bruno Mars:


1) If you ever leave me, baby, Leave some morphine at my door.
It is in S1 and L2, the word morphine is considered as noun. The lexical
meaning of morphine is a powerful drug made from opium that is used to
reduce pain (Merriam Webster Dictioanary). The contextual meaning was
someone who is hurted so much by his lover leaving, so that he asked someone
to give him something to reduce his pain.
2) Cause it would take a whole lot of medication.

The lyrics is in S1 and in L3, the word medication is considered as noun which
means the act or process of threating of person or disease with medicine.
Meanwhile, the contextual meaning of the word in this lyrics is there is no
threatement that can help him to heal his pain.
3) There's no religion that could save me.
The lyrics is in S2 and in L1, the word religion is considered as noun which
means the belief in God. In the contextual meaning that word means there is
no beliefs or anything else in this world to solve his problem.
4) To keep you from walkin' out the door.
The lyrics is in S2 and in L5, the lexical meaning of door here is noun, which
means the entrance of room. In the contextual meaning, door means his side,
in this lyrics the boy begs his girlfriend for not leaving his side.
5) 'Cause there'll be no sunlight.
The lyrics is in S3 and in L1, the sunlight means the light of the sun is lexical
meaning, it refers to noun. Meanwhile, in the contextual meaning the sunlight
means the spirit of his life.
6) There'll be no clear skies.
The lyrics is in S3 and in L3, this phrase consist of two words which are clear
and sky. The lexical meaning of clear is bright or cloudless and it is adjective
while sky is a noun which means the upper atmosphere. In contextual meaning
this phrase defined as the boy wont have happiness in his life anymore.
7) Everyday it'll rain.
The lyrics is in S3 and in L7. The lexical meaning of rain in this song is water
that falls in drops from clouds in the sky, it implies as noun. It is different with
what it means in contextual meaning. In contextual meaning rain is defined as
the boys tears. He will cry over his lover everyday.
8) Ooh, if I was in their shoes, I'd be doing the same thing.
The lyrics is in S4 and in L3. Shoes is a noun which means an outter covering
for your feet in lexical meaning. In this song, the contextual meaning of shoes
is his lovers parents position. The boy will have same perception with the
parents, if he has a daughter he will also forbide her to date someone like him.

9) I'll pick up these broken pieces 'til I'm bleeding.


The lyrics is in S7 and in L3. Pieces in lexical meaning is amount of
something that has been out or separated from the rest. And also one of the bits
or part that something breaks into or is made, it refers to noun. In this lyric
Piece could not be interpreted as amount of something that has been out or
separated from the rest or a lexical meaning, but in the contextual meaning has
different meaning. Piece means his broken feeling or deepest sadness. In
lexical meaning of bleeding is to lose blood because of a cut or injury, it refers
to noun. In contextual meaning, bleeding

means his fight to save their

relationship eventhough he has to hurt badly.


b. The Analysis of Runaway Baby Song by Bruno Mars:
1) Another pretty thang ready for me to grab
The lyrics is in S1 and in L3. The lexical meaning of thang is noun. It is
defined as nonstandard spelling of thing representing southern US
pronunciation, and typically used to denote a feeling or tendency. The
contextual meaning of this word is girl. He wants to seduce a girl to be his
mine.
The lyrics is in S1 and in L3. The lexical meaning of grab is verb. It is
defined as to take or get something. While in contextual meaning is to get the
attention from someone or something.
2) That I'm a wolf in sheep's clothing
The lyrics is in S1 and L5. Clothing can be defined as garments, the things
that people wear to cover their body and it is a noun form, but in contextual
meaning, it has different perspective. It is a kind of English idiom. Clothing
here means the boy pretended to be a nice one but his real character is
contrary.
3) Before I put my spell on you
The lyrics is in S3 and L2. In lexical, spell means a spoken word which have
magic power and it is a noun. The contextual meaning of spell here is a
persuasion method to conquere a girl.

4) Cause Lord knows I'm a rolling stone


The lyrics is in S3 and L6. From lexical meaning perspectives, rolling stone is
is a name of famous legend band and it is a noun. While from contextual
meaning the boy want to announce, he is really cool and no one will deny it,
even God.

5) So many eager young bunnies


The lyrics is in S4 and L4. Bunnies is a plural form of bunny it is a noun
which means a young rabbit but in the contextual has different meaning.
Bunnies is defined as young girl that the boy wants to persuade.
6) There's only one carrot and they all gotta share it!
The lyrics is in S5 and L3. In lexical, it is a noun which means the long
orange root of a plant that is eaten as a vegetables. From contextual
perspective, it implies as his self. He makes himself as something precious
that many girls will fight for.
c. The Analysis of Top of The World Song by Bruno Mars:
1) I feel higher than the ceiling
The lyrics is in S2 and L1. In lexical, Ceiling is the inside surface at the top a
room, it is a noun. From contextual perspective Ceiling here means the singer
feel happy and this condition is beyond of his expectation.
2) I'm floating on this feelin'
The lyrics is in S2 and L2. In lexical, Floating is continually moving or
changing position, it is adjective. From contextual perspective I'm floating
here means he enjoys what he feels in the relationship.
3) My Heart's for sale and girl you bought it
The lyrics is in S2 and L5. From lexical meaning, Sale is noun which means
the act of selling something: the exchange of goods, service, or property for
money. And bought is a past form of buy which means to get (something) by
paying money for it and it is a verb. While in contextual meaning, sale means
he offers his love to a girl and fortunately the girl accept his feeling.
4) Cross my heart and hope to die my love is yours

The lyrics is in S2 and L5. Cross can be defined a long piece of wood with a
shorter piece across it near the top that people were once fastened to and left
to die on as a form of punishment and it is a noun. While if we interpret it, in
contextual meaning, he promise till he die he only has one love for his lover.
5) I will give you the world
The lyrics is in S3 and L1. The lexical meaning of world is the earth and all
the people and things on it and it is a noun. In conteXtual meaning world is
everything. He will give everything to his lover to show how great his love.
6) Put it in your hands
The lyrics is in S3 and L2. Hands mean the body part at the end of arm that
includes fingers and thumb and it is a noun. While in contextual meaning
hands here is make all things that he ive just be her.
7) And to me you're like a flower
The lyrics is in S5 and L1. In lexical, flower means the part of a plant that is
often brightly colored, that usually lasts a short time, and from which the seed
or fruit develops. And in contextual meaning, flower means beautiful. He
praises his lover as beautiful as flower. As we know flower is a symbol of
beauty especially for women.

2. Findings
After analyzing the data the researchers collecting some findings from the
three songs related to their meaning. The researchers put the analysis in tables below.
a) The Analysis It will Rain Song

b) The Analysis of Runaway Baby Song

c) The Analysis of Song

D. DISCUSSION

After analyzing the lyric of the song which are composed by Bruno Mars, the researcher
made conclusion. The researcher found that the lexical and the contextual meanings are used
in the lyrics of Bruno Mars songs. There are so many terminologies that have the different
meanings between lexical meaning and contextual meaning. It is difficult to interpret the
song if the listeners didnt understand the context. The listeners would interpret with various
kinds of meaning. Undersatanding the context of the song is important to listeners so that
they will get real meaning of the song.

REFERENCES
Kreidler, Charles W. 1998. Introducing English semantics. London: Routledge New Fetter
Lane
Parera, Jos Daniel. 1997 . Teori Semantik. Erlangga: Jakarta
Yule, George. 2008. The study of Language. United Kingdom:
Press

Cambridge

University

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