Song Analysis #1-Livin' On a Prayer

Lyrics:
Lyrics to Livin' On A Prayer :

Once upon a time
Not so long ago
Tommy used to work on the docks
Union's been on strike
He's down on his luck...it's tough, so tough
Gina works the diner all day
Working for her man, she brings home her pay
For love - for love

She says: We've got to hold on to what we've got
'Cause it doesn't make a difference
If we make it or not
We've got each other and that's a lot
For love - we'll give it a shot

We're half way there
Livin' on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it - I swear
Livin' on a prayer

Tommy got his six string in hock
Now he's holding in what he used
To make it talk - so tough, it's tough
Gina dreams of running away
When she cries in the night
Tommy whispers: Baby it's okay, someday

We've got to hold on to what we've got
'Cause it doesn't make a difference
If we make it or not
We've got each other and that's a lot
For love - we'll give it a shot

We're half way there
Livin' on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it - I swear
Livin' on a prayer

We've got to hold on ready or not
You live for the fight when it's all that you've got

We're half way there
Livin' on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it - I swear
Livin' on a prayer

Analysis:

Shifting from a sad tone to a optimistic tone in Livin' On a Prayer, Bon Jovi uses plentiful rhyme, depressing imagery, and tone-setting first person point of view to show that because times are tough they are "Livin' on a prayer".

     If you look at Bon Jovi's song carefully you can see that he used a lot of rhyme at the end of every phrase. In the second stanza you can see the four out of five endings to the lines rhyme. Then again in the third stanza all the endings rhyme together with him using, "there","prayer","swear","prayer." Throughout the song Jovi uses the creative use of rhyme to make the song flow and be as cathy as we all know it to be. Every stanza has a little bit of rhyme in it. Even though the rhyme follows no particular pattern it still helps the song stay in our minds.

    At the beginning of this song Jovi uses depressing imagery to paint a picture of the times that these people are going through. Jovi describes a lady that works at a diner to bring money home to support her family, "Gina works the diner all day", is the exact line that starts the talk about the family and what they have gone through. Also even though "Tommy used to work on the docks", times are still rough because his "Union's been on strike", so he has been out of a job getting no money. "Gina dreams of running away" because of the tough times she and her family are having, but "Tommy whispers: Baby it's okay" to comfort Gina and keep her from running away. Bon Jovi paints a picture visually and you can also hear it using his imagery.

     Bon Jovi uses tone-setting first person point of view to put the reader in the position these people are in. Halfway through the song the point of view switches to first person. All of a sudden the reader finds themselves whispering in someone ear to comfort them and remind them "We've got to hold on ready or not" and whatever comes our way we can face. Also you are found saying no matter what happens we still have a love each other, "We've got each other and that's a lot /For love." Then you are offer some encouraging words and offering to be the leader, "Take my hand and we'll make it - I swear " if she just takes your hand you can get her through any trouble that she might face in her life.

     So when shifting from a sad tone to a optimistic tone in Livin' On a Prayer, Bon Jovi uses plentiful rhyme, depressing imagery, and tone-setting first person point of view to show that because times are tough they are "Livin' on a prayer".