Analysis

Death Cab for Cutie is an indie rock band from Bellingham, Washington. They started out in 1997 and released their first studio album in 1998, called “Something About Airplanes”. Their latest album “Narrow Stairs” was released in 2008. This album was nominated for a Grammy for “Best Alternative Music Album”. The song “I will posses your heart” on said album was nominated for “Best Rock Song”.
Besides their musical talent, Death Cab for Cutie is also known for their lyrical skills. The song “ I Will Follow You Home” contains many poetic devices. “Love of mine some day you will die” is personification since love can’t literally die. “I’ll follow you into the dark can be considered imager. The lines “No blinding light or tunnels to gates of white” and “Just our hands clasped so tight” are also considered imagery. “If heaven and hell decide that they both are satisfied” is personification where heaven and hell are given human qualities. “Illuminate the NOs on their vacancy signs” is imagery. Another line that would be considered personification is “When your soul embarks”. There is also irony present. “In Catholic school as vicious as Roman rule I got my knuckles bruised by a lady in black” is ironic because Catholicism is supposed to be a good religion, and then he says their schools are vicious and beat him (bruised knuckles). “Son fear is the heart of love” is a paradox. A line that contains hyperbole is “You and me have seen everything to see”. “And the soles of your shoes are all worn down” as well as “In the blackest of rooms are imagery.
This song by Death Cab for Cutie contains many different types of poetic devices. Besides that, it has great vocals and the acoustic guitar perfectly underlines the meaning of these lyrics. The fact that it’s easy to relate to this song makes it so amazing.