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Every time I close my eyes, I see you in front of me
Pretending in a love like this
I have no choice but to put you in back of me
Don't cover my footsteps
Dead weight all right, I know you're no good for me
Dead weight all right, I know you're no righteous leader
You're dead weight all right, that's fine, you get your hands off me
You have to touch me with kid gloves
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These lyrics feature a common colloquial phrase that is considered to be an error in diction according to the rules of standard American English.
While the adverb phrase "in back of me" is antithetical to "in front of me," the proper idiom is "behind me." Employing the standard phrase would break the parallel structure of the antithesis, and the rhetoric of the chorus would be compromised. Remember that songwriters can flout the rules, but students should exercise caution when choosing words.
Also note the correct use of "all right" in this unofficial transcription. The commonly used "alright" is not a standard word and is acceptable in a colloquial context only.
dictionary.com: colloquial diction antithesis rhetoric flout
Download "Dyslexic Heart" here.
You shoot me glances and they're so hard to read
I miscontrue [interpret incorrectly] what you mean
Slip me a napkin and now that you start
Is this your name or a doctor's eye chart?
I try and comprehend you but I got a dyslexic heart
I ain't dying to offend you, I got a dyslexic heart
Thanks for the book, now my table is ready
Is this a library or bar?
Between the covers I thought you were ready
A half-angel, half-tart
Do I read you correctly, lead me directly
Help me with this part
Do I hate you? Do I date you?
Do I got a dyslexic Heart?
You keep swayin'… what are you sayin'?
Thinking 'bout stayin'?
Or are you just playing, making passes
Well, my heart could use some glasses
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Dyslexia is a reading disorder associated with an impairment in the ability to read and comprehend words. It may also involve challenges in interpreting auditory or visual information. Dyslexia is a pathological condition that affects people, so describing a heart as "dyslexic" is personification. Similarly, hearts do not wear glasses.
The series of questions "Do I hate you? Do I date you? Do I got a dyslexic heart?" is an example of anaphora because three successive sentences begin with the words "do I."
The couplet "Do I hate you? Do I date you?" is an example of antithesis because the sentences have a similar structure and they express contrasting feelings (assuming that dating someone is indicative of a lack of hatred).
- personification: the assignment of human characteristics to inanimate objects or nature in a direct and explicit manner
- anaphora: the repetition of a word or set of words at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences
- couplet: a pair of successive lines of verse that generally rhyme and have the same meter
- antithesis: the placement of words, phrases, or sentences in a parallel structure to form a balanced contrast of ideas
dictionary.com: miscontrue
