Song Analysis 1(Tumbling)

Jared Marvel

Mr. Kefor

10/13/11

POS

Theme genre thesis

Shifting from first person ‘I’ to first person ‘you’ point of view in “Tumbling,” Van Khai Truong employs romantic hyperbole, an apologetic tone, and amorous imagery to elucidate the power of the “presence of a lover.” Seen throughout this song, romantic hyperbole acts as a means of exaggerating how the speaker feels like he has “a broken heart on fire” when he loses his girlfriend. This exaggeration speaks to people who have gone through unwanted breakups, bringing the overwhelming feeling of hopelessness to light. Hyperbole is an excellent choice because not only can it show how much the loss of a lover can bring one down, but also how much seeing them can lift one’s spirits. “I’ve waited for days with you’re smile still in tact,/because your teeth shine right through me.” Even her smile can lift him up, showing just how powerful her presence is.

Adopted by Truong, the apologetic tone serves the purpose to show just how sorry he is. Through his song, he shows that he’s “been trying to be better than” he was, exemplifying his regret. He wishes that she would “stop and think” of him, just as he is doing while writing this song. This amount of longing for another is only possible because he feels empty without her. If she were there with him, then he would feel whole and indefinitely better. Truong inevitably reminds the audience of a time they caused the end of a great relationship and the feeling that encapsulated them. This reminder signals the notion that the presence of a lover is so strong that their exit from one’s life leads to desperation.

Truong applies amorous imagery throughout “Tumbling” as a means of tying the song together and drawing more attention and life to it. Not only does he think so highly of her to say she has a nice smile, but a smile that could “shine right through me.” Instead of using a simple line such as I like your smile, he instead elaborates with this line that begets the thought of a smile so bright that it would blind the reader. Whilst Truong could just have easily told us that he was very sad, he describes himself as having “a broken heart on fire,” which brings the reader to an understanding of just how tormented he must feel. The bright smile, which shows how minute a detail he notices about her, that he remembers and perpetual torment he feels when she is gone help bring us to the ultimate conclusion that not only does he miss his lover, but does not feel whole without her.

The shift in “Tumbling” from first to second person helps to establish the personal feel of the song. Instead of talking about his friends or family in the song, the only people mentioned are himself and his lover. This shows that not only is the “presence of a lover” intensely strong, but also makes those involved feel as though they are the only ones that matter. This illusion that they are the only ones that matter truly show how strong the connection is in that it puts somewhat of a trance on those under the spell of love which conjures up the feeling that nothing else matters.