“Well it was just a dream
Just a moment ago
I was up so high
Looking down at the sky
Don’t let me fall
I was shooting for stars
On a Saturday night
They say what goes up
Must come down
But don’t let me fall.”
—“Don’t Let Me Fall” by B.o.B.
I have a tendency to mainly listen to underground artists with a few sprinklings of the mainstream. Perhaps one of the reasons is that most of the rap music being promoted today either sounds the same or has limited sustenance for me, or maybe I’m just getting old and turning into one of those “back in my day when music was good” type of people. As a person who loves all different types of music, I know it is not fair to discount all mainstream sounds, so I do occasionally listen to the radio to hear what’s new. Actually, I require my English Composition II students to analyze a song of their choosing as poetry, and it gives me the chance to be exposed to different types of music or some mainstream music that I might not otherwise hear.
Last year, a student of mine selected B.o.B.’s, aka Bobby Ray Simmons Jr, song “Don’t Let Me Fall” to analyze as poetry, and I quite impressed. We’ve all heard the cliche phrase “shoot for the stars,” but is it potentially missing the stars that stops some of us from even making the attempt to shoot? Maybe, but I think one of the major reasons is being addressed by B.o.B. What if you shoot for the stars and make it? Then you have an even bigger concern: trying not to fall from the sky. Hey, there are people who don’t fly on airplanes because they are terrified about falling out of the sky; therefore, the thought of figuratively falling out of the sky or not being successful with one’s dreams may be frightening as well.
“They say what comes up must come down,” as B.o.B. points out; nevertheless, how you come down or even when you come down can depend on your own actions. If you come down unprepared, well, you’ll hit the ground like a brick, and there may be no recovery from it. However, if you pack a parachute, you’ll be ready just in case. If you use a glider, the wind can guide you, and you might have even more air time and get to enjoy the breeze as you decline. Let’s face it; to fall has a negative connotation. Who really wants to fall? But sometimes it’s necessary so that you don’t run out of oxygen, and other times you need energy to keep flying. Sometimes it’s just a matter of refueling or coming back down to pick up or drop off passengers along the way. Also, it’s excellent when you have a solid support system including God, family, friends, co-wrokers, students, etc. to lift you up even higher or to help you if you begin to descend.
Please feel free to share your thoughts
~Anonomz aka Tanya Harris
Bonus English Lesson:
B.o.B. uses figurative language to demonstrate his success. He is not literally flying high in the sky, but the impact of the potential fall can be emotionally damaging.
Journey of Anonomz 