Bellwork

o “Thinking about Music”

o Handout is on the front table; please read the
instructions and respond to the prompts
below the directions.
o Simply put, reflect on one of your favorite
songs using the questions to guide your
response.
o Be prepared to share your reflection with the
class.
Analyzing Music
Annotating lyrics and developing arguments
Learning target
❖ By the end of the lesson, students should be
able to develop a justifiable claim beyond the
song’s literal or surface interpretation by
citing evidence from the song’s lyrics to
support their contention.
❖ Standards:
✓ 9-10.RL.1: Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text
says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
✓ 9-10.RL.2: Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its
development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and
refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
✓ 9-10.W.1: Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or
texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
✓ 9-10.SL.1: Come to discussions prepared having read and researched material under
study; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence from texts and other
research on the topic or issue to stimulate a thoughtful, well‐reasoned exchange of
ideas.
 “I’m Free (Heaven Helps the Man)” by
Kenny Loggins
o Listen to the song without reading the
lyrics.
• Share your initial reactions, questions,
etc. with the class.
• How did you respond during or after
listening to the song?
• Did the song elicit a response, whether it
may be a physical, emotional and/or
intellectual reaction?
 “I’m Free (Heaven Helps the Man)” by
Kenny Loggins
o After listening to the song again and following
along with the lyrics, has your understanding of
the song changed?
• Did listening to the song while following
along with the lyrics elicit any additional
reactions? If so, how do you believe these
effects were achieved?
• What do you initially believe is the purpose,
theme or underlying meaning of the song?
Tips for annotating a text
✓ Circle, underline or highlight words and phrases that
strike you, grab your attention or anything you notice.
✓ Mark key words or phrases.
✓ Indicate uses of tone or key words and phrases that
may allow for interpretations of the song’s message
or purpose.
✓ Write questions or comments in the margins—this is
your “conversation” with the lyrics.
✓ Identify uses of literary devices such as figurative
language, symbols, imagery, etc.
✓ Note anything new, interesting or intriguing.
“I’m Free (Heaven Helps the Man)” by
Kenny Loggins
[Verse 1]:

Looking into your eyes, I know I'm right

If there's anything worth my love, it's worth a fight

We only get one chance

but nothing ties our hands

You're what I want

listen to me, nothing I want

is out of my reach
“I’m Free (Heaven Helps the Man)” by
Kenny Loggins
[Chorus]:
(I'm free!) Heaven helps the man who fights his fear

Love's the only thing that keeps me here (I’m free!)

You're the reason that I'm hanging on

My heart's staying where my heart belongs (I'm free!)

“I’m Free (Heaven Helps the Man)” by
Kenny Loggins
[Verse 2]:
Running away will never make you free
And nothing we sign is any kind of guarantee
I wanna hold you now
I won't hold you down
Shaking the past
making my breaks
taking control
that's what it takes
[Chorus repeats]
“I’m Free (Heaven Helps the Man)” by
Kenny Loggins
I wanna hold you now
I won't hold you down
You're what I want
listen to me, nothing I want
is out of my reach
[Chorus x2]
(I'm free) heaven helps the man who fights his fear
Love's the only thing that keeps me here
You're the reason that I'm hanging on… [fade out]
 “I’m Free (Heaven Helps the Man)” by
Kenny Loggins
o After annotating the lyrics and
watching the music video, did the
music video help you overcome your
initial judgments or grant you a better
understanding of the song?
Sample claim — “I’m Free (Heaven
Helps the Man)” by Kenny Loggins
Kenny Loggins' "I'm Free (Heaven Helps the Man)" is often heard
as a song of true love. In such an interpretation, the singer is
heard as professing their love for another person.
The chorus lends itself to such an interpretation, but at the cost
of ignoring the rest of the song. Scrutinizing the lyrics reveals
that, far from a declaration of love, the song possibly relates to
pursuing the American experience of freedom and how one
must struggle to achieve their ambitions. In the first verse, the
speaker evokes an impression of perseverance and
relentlessness in the lines, “You're what I want / listen to me,
nothing I want / is out of my reach (5-7); from this
perspective, one can presume when goals can be achieved
through persistence and tenacity, nothing is impossible or
unattainable…
 “Unforgiven” by The Go-Go’s
o Listen to the song while following along
with the lyrics.
• Share your initial reactions, questions,
etc. with the class.
• How did you respond during or after
listening to the song?
• Did the song elicit a response, whether it
may be a physical, emotional and/or
intellectual reaction?
 “Unforgiven” by The Go-Go’s
o After watching the music video and following
along with the lyrics, has your understanding of
the song changed?
• Did watching the music video elicit any
additional reactions? If so, how do you believe
these effects were achieved?
• What do you initially believe is the purpose,
theme or underlying meaning of the song?
• Did watching the music video help you
overcome your initial judgments or grant you a
better understanding of the song?
“Unforgiven” by The Go-Go’s
[Verse 1]:

Always tryin' to clean up my catastrophes

taking full responsibility

Living my life like every day is the last

remodeling the wreckage of my past

But when it comes to you

I know I said I do

but I don't, no I don't

“Unforgiven” by The Go-Go’s
[Chorus]:

You’re unforgiven so go on living

knowing that I’ve unforgiven you

And my Thanksgiving

came the day I saw it was okay

to unforgive you
“Unforgiven” by The Go-Go’s

[Verse 2]:

Confessing every sin doesn't make me a saint

Even though it's obvious I've changed

Once I forgave you, but I did not forget

Now I'm taking back everything I said

“Unforgiven” by The Go-Go’s

[Chorus repeats]

But when it comes to you

I know I said I do

But I don't, no I don't

[Chorus repeats]
Putting it all Together
Using your annotations and your
understanding of the song, synthesize your
findings to adopt a position and develop a
claim about the song.
Be sure to support your claim by citing lines
from the lyrics and develop an argument
that is not readily apparent to the reader;
show that the song is not as straightforward
as it seems.
Sample claim — “I’m Free (Heaven
Helps the Man)” by Kenny Loggins
Kenny Loggins' "I'm Free (Heaven Helps the Man)" is often heard
as a song of true love. In such an interpretation, the singer is
heard as professing their love for another person.
The chorus lends itself to such an interpretation, but at the cost
of ignoring the rest of the song. Scrutinizing the lyrics reveals
that, far from a declaration of love, the song possibly relates to
pursuing the American experience of freedom and how one
must struggle to achieve their ambitions. In the first verse, the
speaker evokes an impression of perseverance and
relentlessness in the lines, “You're what I want / listen to me,
nothing I want / is out of my reach (5-7); from this
perspective, one can presume when goals can be achieved
through persistence and tenacity, nothing is impossible or
unattainable…