She Wouldn't be Gone Analysis

Blake Shelton, a wistful country star, is known for his southern drawl and soulful lyrics. His latest song, “She Wouldn’t be Gone” is a song about a broken heart. For those of you music lovers out there who don’t know Blake Shelton, he first broke out on to the music scene in 2001, and has been in many country fanatics hearts ever since. His influences include famous country stars, Travis Tritt and Hank Williams Jr. Shelton is ranked up there with other country singers like Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, and Keith Urban. Overall, both his sad and upbeat songs are equally eloquent and meaningful.

Opening his first verse with a line of imagery, Shelton vividly creates a picture in his listener’s head, when he says, “Red roadside wild flower if I’d only picked you.” This creates an image of red wild flowers. Shelton sings the first verse as if he is singing to the flowers; they could have been symbols of his adoration. The next verse says, “Yellow sunset slowly dipping down in the rear view” this also is imagery and partially personification. He is reminiscing about his ex-love and thinking about all the things she liked to do, “Oh, how she’d love to sit and watch you.” He also regrets being selfish and not making her happier when she was in his life. In the chorus he says “wouldn’t be driving like hell flying like crazy down the highway,” this is an example of similes, general comparisons. “Screaming out her name at the windshield tears soaking up my face,” this is also an example of personification of his tears. It also helps develop an image for his listener. In the third verse, he sings about how his ex-love warned him that if he didn’t change then she would leave, but he didn’t believe her until it was too late. In the last line of the verse he says, “Called her mama, cried like a baby to her best friend,” this is an example of a simile as well. In the following verse he explains that no one is helping him find her, “Now I’m, cursing like a fool, praying it ain’t too late” this is another perfect example of a simile where he compares himself to cursing like a fool. The chorus then repeats as well as part of the verse before. He then repeats the first verse to emphasis his sadness and close out the song the same way it started, he’s still in the same position... alone and regretful.

Shelton’s lyrics and deep voice come together to create vivid representation in the listener’s minds of his emotions. He combines his guitar and great writing ability to reel in his audience. He’s a great contributor to country music and song writing as a whole, “She Wouldn’t be Gone” is a perfect example of his masterful skills. His examples of imagery, personification and similes, all help emphasis his lyric writing style.