YOUR ORAL TASK :

You are going to discover a modern recording of a very famous song Masters of War written
by Bob Dylan. Make a song analysis to be posted online. Present the singer, the context, the lyrics ; Sum up
its issue (s) (problem ,subject) etc.
.
Use the Protest Song Analysis worksheet and

the outline below to organize your analysis.

Protest Song Analysis Worksheet

Name of Song:
Written by:
Performed by:
Release Date:

Covered by :

________________________________________________________________________________

What is the message or theme of the song? What is the purpose of the song?
What were the political circumstances at the time the song was released?
Does the song seem to be written in response to a specific event?
Does the song suggest any solution(s) to the issues/problems addressed? Explain.
Who is the speaker (narrative voice) of the song? Is it the artist or are the lyrics from another
persons perspective?
Read the first verse . To whom (or to what audience) is the song addressed? Discuss who the
Masters of War are and how the singer feels towards them.
Pinpoint (indiquer) what Dylans argument in each verse is .
Describe how this song makes you feel and why. In other words, what mood does the song convey?
Discuss techniques used to make the song more powerful. Discuss how effective you think Bob Dylan
is in getting his anti-war message across.

Quote, identify, and explain at least

Quotation

literary techniques found in the lyrics.

Literary Technique

Explanation

Bob Dylan once explained that at that time he was singing to define the way he felt about the world. Say
what his feelings about the world could have been.

Outline : A Protest Song Analysis

Paragraph 1 Introduction

List the songs title

The band/artist who perform it
The year / the time during which it was written / release date
Present the historical context and give some background information to set the stage for your analysis. (What relevant
events are happening in North America or in the world during the time of the songs release?)
Mention the important issue (s) the song protests or is about and its point of view
The style of the song and explain the songs purpose.
Paragraph 2-

Describe or summarize the story and explain what is happening in the song
Who is the speaker? What is happening or what has happened? What is he/she protesting about? (Use quotations to
support your ideas).
This body paragraph should begin by giving an overview of what the first verse (or verses) of the song is about and how the
musical tone of the song supports this.
Paragraph 3 What are some of the powerful words or images in the song? What do they mean

and how do they add power to the song? Are certain lines repeated? Why?
Discuss techniques used to make the song more powerful.
Include and explain at least 4 literary techniques that make the song powerful

Paragraph 4 What is the message in the song? Explain why the message is effective. What

themes can you find in the song?

This should look at the chorus - what is the key message of the words and how
does the songs style change (or not change) to re-inforce this.
How effective is the songwriter in getting his/her message across ?
Final Paragraph

How does the song finish?

What are the key words or feeling from the music that we are left to think about?
Identify a main idea in your chosen song and explain whether you agree or
disagree with the songwriters opinion. Support your response with specific
reference to the song and your own beliefs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHMlAYeFeYw

"Masters Of War"
Come you masters of war
You that build all the guns
You that build the death planes
You that build all the bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks.
You that never done nothin'
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it's your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly.
Like Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe
But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain.

You fasten all the triggers

For the others to fire
Then you set back and watch
When the death count gets higher
You hide in your mansion'
As young people's blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud.

You've thrown the worst fear

That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world
For threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain't worth the blood
That runs in your veins.

How much do I know

To talk out of turn
You might say that I'm young
You might say I'm unlearned
But there's one thing I know
Though I'm younger than you
That even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do.