Songs Analysis Essay Example

“Rise Up” by Andra Day is a motivational song about not giving up.The message she sends is even when one is beat up and left helpless, to stand tall and keep fighting. “Rise Up” represents what Skeeter, Aibileen, and Minny are trying to accomplish through their book. In the lyrics, Day says, “When the silence isn't quiet/ And it feels like it's getting hard to breathe/ And I know you feel like dying” (Day). Skeeter is writing a book. The book is her tribute in helping to end segregation. “Do you ever wish you could...change things?” (Stockett 12). The three of them are not speaking out loud against it. Instead, they are writing down their protest. When Day says “When the silence isn’t quiet,” she means that something is going on that does not involve words spoken out loud (Day). Speaking in silence is exactly what Aibileen, Skeeter, and Minny are doing.  Most revolts lead by black people were dangerous. During that time period, police officers would send black men and women to jail over little consequences, such as using a white bathroom. African Americans were kept quiet by white people in the sense that they could not protest without being at risk of jail or death. That is why most protested in silence, similar to maids like Aibileen and Minny. 

Imagine by John Lennon

John Lennon represents peace and hope. His song, “Imagine,” is the perfect representation of what he stands for. “Imagine” is about human beings living together in peace. “Imagine all the people living life in peace, you/ You may say I'm a dreamer/ But I'm not the only one/ I hope some day you'll join us/ And the world will be as one” (Lennon). What Lennon means is once the prejudiced people learn that everyone is the same, only then will we all live happy. Skeeter relates to Lennon. She, too, wants the world to live as one. “The colored women...we don’t even allow them to use the toilet in the house” (Stockett 123). Segregation is something she does not believe in. The separation of people is degrading, and is against everything she stands for. When Lennon says “You may say I’m a dreamer,” the “you” he is referring to is vague, but can be considered racists. Once the racist beings learn that white and black is just a color, only then will discrimination end. With Skeeter, she writes to show what Lennon sings. 

At the end of The Help, Aibileen is fired from her job. She is now free to explore new opportunities. A song about changes and starting over is “Change” by Christina Aguilera. Aguilera says, “Waiting for a change to set us free/ Waiting for the day where you can be you and I can be me” (Aguilera). For Aibileen, the “change” is being fired from her job as a maid for the Leefolt family. Aibileen has been with the Leefolts for years, she forgot what it was like to not work for a white family. Being fired is a change for her. It is setting her free to do something new. “Maybe I ain’t too old to start over” (Stockett 522). Under the Leefolt’s rules, Aibileen could not speak out or say what she wanted. Now, she can be herself without worrying about losing a job. The change let’s her be Aibileen, just like the song says. 

Constantine was Skeeter’s maid. As a child, she did not get along well with her mom. They disagreed on countless things, such as what Skeeter wore. Constantine was the mother-like figure, she gave Skeeter advice. “Ugly live up on the inside. Ugly be a hurtful, mean person” (Stockett 73). Constantine was older, though, and died, leaving Skeeter lost and upset. The mood of the book during this time was sad, because Skeeter lost someone who was like a mother. “Supermarket Flowers” by Ed Sheeran has the same mood. He says, “”. The song is dedicated to his mom, who had died as well. Both Skeeter and Sheeran are grieving over their lost. Both COnstantine and SHeeran’s mom got to see what the two accomplished. Skeeter went to college, a huge step in her life. 

“The Scientist” by Coldplay

“The Scientist” by Coldplay is a song about a failed relationship, where the one in the wrong is apologizing. In The Help, Stuart and Skeeter broke up because Stuart loved someone else. Their relationship failed. In the song, it says ,”Tell you I'm sorry/ You don't know how lovely you are/ I had to find you/ Tell you I need you” (Coldplay). This is part of an apology. Stuart realized that he was worng when he and Skeeter broke up. So, he went to apologize, saying something extremely similar to COldplay’s apology. “I came to Tell you something” (Stockett 416). Stuart loved Skeeter as well, and found it hard to move on from her. Without SKeeter, life was different for him. In both the song and book, one person in the relationship is sorry, and wants to try and make amends. However, Skeeter does not want to start over with Stuart.

Segregation is the separation of two groups, whether that be genders, classes, color, etc. During the 1960s, segregation between a white and colored individual was huge. It was considered, “separate, but equal” (). The plot of The Help is based around racial discrimination. At one point, Medgar Evers is shot and killed. “KKK shot him (Evers). Front a his house” (Stockett 228). This is a turning point in the book because it shows just how dangerous segregation is. “Angel Down” by Lady Gaga is about a shooting similar to the one in The Help. “Shots were fired on the street/ But the people just stood around” (Gaga). Gaga is speaking of the murder of an African American in the similar situation as Evans was in. Both the mood in the song and book is fear and lost. There is an emphasis on how close everyone was to the shooting in the song. In both the shootings, everyone is shocked and helpless. In The Help, Ever’s death causes fear among African Americans living near him, just as the shooting Lady Gaga speaks of renders everyone scared. 

“Blackbird” by The Beatles

“Blackbird” by The Beatles is about speaking up and the Civil Rights Movement. Aibileen and Minny are faced constantly with problems, most being the cause of discrimination. The bathroom is an example. There is a white bathroom and a black bathroom, because “99% of all colored diseases are carried in the urine,” as Hilly says (Stokett). In Blackbird, it says “Blackbird singing in the dead of night/ Take these broken wings and learn to fly/ All your life/ You were only waiting for this moment to arise” () The blackbird can be compared to Aibileen and Minny. With Skeeter, they are speaking out against racist people such as their bosses. They do this through a book. FOr so long, Aibileen and Minny were oppressed of being able to speak up for their rights. Now, like the blackbird, the two of them can take a stand. The blackbird was waiting for a long time for the moment to be able to sing, similar to African Americans everywhere during the period of segregation. For Aibileen and Minny, the “moment” the Beatles refer to can be seen as the publishing of the book, becasue it was at that moment they were heard by everyone. 

HIlly is the bully of JAckson, Mississippi. She is the one who ruined Minny’s career by making sure no one would hire her. She did this by “...telling everbody in town I’m stealing!” (Stockett 24). This brought Minny down, and made her feel worthless. “Skyscraper” by Demi Lovato is about becoming stronger. Even though Minny lost her job, and is beaten up by her husband, ahe stands strong, just like a skyscraper. Demi says, “Go on and try to tear me down I will be rising from the ground/ Like a skyscrape” (). Hilly tried, and failed, to bring Minny down. The song is representing overcoming obstacles, just like Minny does.