A SEMANTIC ANALYSIS ON ED SHEERAN SONGS

Ika Trisnantasari, M. Pd
Ika.trisnantasari@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Semantic is the branches of linguistics. This branch is the important one, and
there are lexical meaning and contextual meaning. By listening to the songs, we can
get knowledge about appreciates literature and the background of the song.
Therefore, the researcher was interested in analyzing the kinds of meaning used in
Ed Sheeran songs. The researcher dedicated to give the title of this research
“Semantic Analysis on Ed Sheeran Songs”. The problem of this study is: (1) what are
the lexical meanings in the Ed Sheeran Songs? (2) What are the contextual meaning
in the Ed Sheeran Songs. The researcher takes five songs from different album. This
study used a descriptive qualitative method because the researcher would analysis
and interpret the research object of Ed Sheeran Songs. The step to obtain the data is
by collecting sources of the data from Ed sheeran Songs and from internet. After that
she selects the songs which contain of semantic, reads and listens to the lyrics to
understand the content of the songs conducts and analyzes the collected data and
makes conclusion.The result of this research is as follows: (1) related to the lexical
meaning, while (2) related to the contextual meaning. The researcher expects this
research will be useful for the other researchers who are eager to know more about
semantics. Moreover, semantic is an important branch of linguistics that is interesting
to be studied, especially when it is applied to literary works, such us songs or poem
etc.

Key Words: Semantic, song, lexical meaning, contextual meaning, Ed Sheeran, word.

Introduction research. First of all, this song tells

In this research, the researcher
chooses literary works like songs. Song
is any poem even there is an attention
of it being set to music. In this
research, the researcher chooses the
literary problem about song. It was “Ed
Sheeran” Song. The study was limited
on lexical meanings and contextual
meanings.
The researcher chosen “Ed
Sheeran” song because her song is very
interesting to examine and research in
more detail. Beside that, the researcher
have a some reason to be analysis this
about love story. And then, the
researcher takes five songs in different
album. The five songs are about love
story that have same story with the
researcher in the daily fact. This love
story is introducting for the reader and
listener that if we wants to make a good
relation with our partner, we must to be
know about all of the physical,
characteristic, and about inherit of
family. Besides this song give a lexical
meaning and contextual meaning and
than gave a massage for someone who
loves their partner until the end of life.

1
 This songs is very quite to be
heard. Ed Sheeran also writing and
produced song for international singer
like justin beiber, Raihana, Taylor
Swift ect, and have been always hits in
the billboard hot 100.Ed Sheeran is an
English male singers, he was born on
February 17, 1991 with the full name
of Edward Christopher Sheeran. He
became one of the singer-songwriter
successful British global today. The
genre is pop music he is playing. In the
world of music, Ed Sheeran career
arguably still very short. He started his
debut album in 2011, and has released
three studio albums. Uniquely, he
named the album their corresponding
mathematical symbols, ie “+” (plus
sign) and “X” (the time) “-:-“ (devide).
Although still relatively young, but the
career Ed Sheeran able to climb
quickly. Here the researcher will
present the full profile and biography.
Statement of Problem
There is problems that the
researcher wants to answer in this
research. This is the problem about a
semantic analysis on Ed Sheeran Song.
The writer divided the problem into
two questions, they are:
1. What are the lexical meanings
in the lyrics of Ed Sheeran
songs?
2. What are the contextual
meanings in the lyrics of Ed
Sheeran songs?
Objective of the Study
1. To explain the lexical meanings
in the lyrics of “Ed
Sheeran”songs for reader.
2. To explain the contextual
meanings in the lyrics of “Ed
Sheeran” songs for reader.
Significance of The Study
This study provides several
significant contributions to the reader
that can be enjoyed with the song.
Especially, in knowing about the
lexical meaning and contextual
meaning are used in the lyrics ofEd
Sheeran songs.
Scope and Limitation
In this research, the researcher
focuses and analyzes on five lyrics of
“Ed Sheeran” songs in different album.
The titles of the song are
“Shape of you”,”How Would You
Feel”,“Thinking Out Loud ”,
“Photograph ”, “Give Me Love ”,
Research Design
In this research, the researcher used
descriptive qualitative. The qualitative
method was a research procedure
which result in descriptive data
including written and oral word from
the research objectives whether it is
from society or books. The researcher
studied lexical meaning and contextual
meaning. Unfortunately, it describes
the data in the form of words and uses
the text of the lyrics to be analyzed.
Therefore, this research was descriptive
qualitative because it depends very
much on narrative descriptive.
Qualitative approach took because this
research was in discussing.
Data Collection
The researcher collected the
data in following step. First, the
researcher reading all the data sources.
2
 perfection. The
Second, selected the appropriate songs girl is really
into him too.
in the lyrics “Ed Sheeran” songs. Next, 2 “Crazy” S2 and L4 affected with
Its mean that,
madness or
someone made
chooses five lyrics covered in the song. insanity, or
someone
himself
pictured by his
The last, the data to be arranged deranged and
possibly
words
dangerous
systematically in accordance with the 3 “Grab” S2 and L6 ” to take hold of feeling deep in
something or heart for
researchfocuses. To arrange the data, someone somebody and
suddenly and he want to
the researcher defined about the lexical roughly something like
women and
you can get it
meaning, and the second explained comfortable
resting place
about contextual meaning. that near him.
4 “Magnet” S3 and L2 the loadstone; a when we feel
species of iron that attraction
ore (the in our heart, we
Research Findings ferrosoferric or
magnetic ore,
feel it as a kind
of love and
Fe3O4) which love always
In this analysis, the researcher has the property wants to bring
of attracting iron us closer to
used one word to explain contain of the and some of its what we love.
ores, and, when
term in “Ed Sheeran” lyrics. Term here freely
suspended, of
pointing to the
were word or combination of word poles; (physics)
a device that
which are used by “Ed Sheeran” lyrics attracts iron and
produces a
in her lyrics to show he feeling to her 5 “Handmade” S2 and L2
magnetic field
one production professes his
boyfriends to show he feeling or love, objects have
been made by
love for this
girl. They may
someone using have met a
there are many term that have their handsor short time ago,
using tools rather but they have
difference meanings lexically and than by hit it off. He
machines thinks she was
contextually. This research has a clue made for him-
just the right
amount of
for to be know about one word and the beauty and
crazy and body
other word that wants to analyze. For perfection. The
girl is really
example, the researcher give a clue for into him too.

the first stanza was S1. And then, for

about line in the stanza, the researcher How Would You Feel
give a clue for the first line was L1. The second data is “How would you
And then, for the next word continued feel” by “Ed Sheeran” lyrics in
for this clue. So, the reader not “Devide” (2017) album.
STANZA
NO WORDS LEXICAL CONTEXTUAL
confused to read this research. & LINE

1 “True” S1 and consistent with is made. (Its mean

L2 fact or reality; that, she has
Shape Of You not false; "the poisoned his
story is mind.)
The first data were “shape of you” by true";"the true
meaning of the
“Ed Sheeran” lyrics in “Devide (÷)” statement"

(2017) album. 2 “Younger S1 and a used of the the lover is one

STANZA ” L2 younger of two who is celebrating
NO WORDS LEXICAL CONTEXTUAL
existence. The
& LINE persons of the
1 “Handmade” S2 and L2 one production professes his celebration is the
same name
objects have love for this pleasure that is the
especially used external
been made by girl. They may
someone using have met a to distinguish a manifestation of
their handsor short time ago, son from his the lover.
using tools rather but they have father; "John
than by hit it off. He Junior"; "John
machines thinks she was Smith, Jr."
made for him- junior -
just the right
younger; lower
amount of
beauty and in rank; shorter
crazy and body in length of

3
 tenure or Providence";
service. "in its
mysterious
past it
3 “Alone” S1 and ” to take hold isolated from encompasses
L4 of something or others . all the dim
someone origins of
suddenly and life"- Rachel
Carson;
roughly
"rituals
totally
4 “Stealing S2 and the act of taking imagined. Its mean mystifying
” L3 something from that, her someone to visitors
someone made himself from other
lands".
unlawfully pictured by his
words.
2 “Touch” S2 and is to cause or its mean that she
L4 permit a part would always be
5 “Spendin S3 and The act of Spending of the body, by her side and
g” L3 spending or timetogether for especially she will always
disbursing long periods of the hand or hold his hand
money. time fingers, to tightly.
come in
contact with
6 “Deeper” S3 and If something is He believe that the so as to feel
L4 deep, it extends expression “love”
a long way means giving up 3 “Stars” S3 and a celestial is felt the air was
down from the any preconceived L3. body that getting cooler
ground or from intentions of the generates and made her
the top surface other person and light and uncertain.
of something accepting what other radiant
energy and
you see, feel, hear
consists of a
and intuit. all she mass of gas
has done to make held together
he self cannot stop by its own
thinking. gravity in
which the
energy
7 “Summer S4 and The warmest meaning simple. generated by
” L2 season of the he loves it with a nuclear
year; in the simple one. reactions in
northern the interior
hemisphere it is balanced
by the
extends from
outflow of
the summer energy to the
solstice to the surface, and
autumnal the inward-
equinox; "they directed
spent a lazy gravitational
summer at the forces are
balanced by
shore" the outward-
directed gas
8 “River” S4 and a large natural release. (She did and radiation
L2 stream of water not want to forget pressures
(larger than a it when he
creek); "the returned.) 4 “Beating” S3 and is a is about all that
river was L4 whipping or he experienced
thrashing, as as if it's not ever
navigable for
in over
50 miles" punishment;
the act of a
person or
thing that
beats
Thingking Out Loud
5 “Found” S3 and to come is when the soul
The third data is “Thingking Out Lout” L6 upon, often
by accident;
arrives at her
absolute home,
by “Ed Sheeran” lyrics in “The time meet with
and to come
recognizes he
true beloved, and

“(X)” (2014) album. upon or

discover by
realizes it as her
ipseity, many
STANZA searching or insights,
NO WORDS LEXICAL CONTEXTUAL making an realizations, and
& LINE
effort; to feelings
discover or spontaneously
1 “stand” S2 and of an is a meaning she ascertain arise
L3 obscure told someone through
nature; "the that she loved observation,
new that you are not experience,
insurance alone but we or study
policy is were always
written together.
without 6 “Evergreen” S5 and having is about she said
cryptic or L1 foliage that that she would
mysterious persists and not give up
terms"; "a remains looking for you
deep dark green to work hard. So,
secret"; "the throughout the word
inscrutable the year "evergreen" in
workings of the lyric is about

4
 to never give up remember
to love.
5 “Broken” S2 and physically and meaning find. Its
7 “Plan” S2 and method of always continued L4 forcibly separated mean that the word in
L1 achieving to survive and
into pieces or the lyric she got a
something she will never
that you desperate in cracked or split; "a friend who is in
have worked pursuit of her broken mirror"; "a accordance the way
out in detail love. broken tooth"; "a her mind.
beforehand; broken leg"; "his
what you are neck is broken
going to do,
you decide
in detail 6 “Frozen” S2 and turned into or about there is a
what you are L5 covered with ice people that always
going to do, want to know about
and you her.
intend to do
it
7 “Pocket” S2 and A small baglike brought. Its mean
8 “Mistake” S2 and An error or about survive is L3 attachment that, the lyrics
L1 fault one way to forming part of a explained that he had
resulting always keep his garment and used allowed himself
from love. to carry small knows a thing would
defective articles, as a flat happen to brought he
judgment, pouch sewn inside love to near in heart.
deficient
a pair of pants or a
knowledge,
or piece of material
carelessness sewn on its sides
and bottom to the
outside of a shirt

8 “Piece” S4 and an amount of it ended. (Its mean that,

Photograph L5 that has been the lyrics explained

The fourth data is “Photograph” by broken off, torn

off, or cut off ; A
that relationship
which they have

“Ed sheeran” lyrics in “The Time (X)” thing considered

as a unit or an
lived, it ended well.)

element of a larger
(2014) album. thing, quantity, or
class; a portion
STANZA
WORDS LEXICAL CONTEXTUAL
& LINE
NO 9 “Necklac S9 and is jewelry What needs to be
e L2 consisting of a seen and loved is not
1 “hurt” S1 and a part of your desperate. (Its mean cord or chain only the external,
L1 body, you feel that the lyric, the (often bearing physical, emotional,
pain because you above weaknesses in gems) worn about and mental
have injured building their true the neck as an manifestations, but
yourself. love, they still keep a ornament more important, his
sense of desperation (especially by very Presence, his
to always go forward women) true self and identity
in building pleasure.)
10 “Phone” S11 and converts sound is he confident that he
2 “Hard” S1 and very difficult to do something vulnerable L5 into electrical could get through all
L4 or deal with; in maintaining signals that can be the challenges of
Resistant to relationships, the transmitted over their love
song describes a distances and then
pressure; not
relationship that is converts received
readily penetrated; easily damaged and
firm or solid; very signals back into
could not keep up
firm and stiff to sounds
with either
touch and is not
easily bent, cut, or
broken

3 “Photogra S2 and an image of an someone who has

Give Me Love
ph” L1. object, person, created for us to stay
scene, etc, in the together through
form of a print or happiness and The fifth data is “Give me love “by “Ed
Sheeran” lyrics in “Plus Sign (+)”
slide recorded by a sadness.
camera on
photosensitive
material; Often (2011) album.
shortened to: STANZA
photo NO WORDS LEXICAL CONTEXTUAL
& LINE

4 “Memori in S2 and The mental faculty necessitate. Its mean 1 “Paint” S1 and place a meaning thinking
es” L2 of retaining and that, the lyric is L3 believed to be was not healthy in
recalling past requires them to keep the home of dealing problems
experience; The it together through wicked
act or an instance thick and thin. people after
of remembering; death or very
recollection; All unpleasant
that a person can situation or

5
 experience
causing great The third data is about
suffering
“Thingking out loud” with “The Time
2 “Corner” S2 and
L1
isthe position
at which two
he is confident that
he could get
(X)” 2014 album. This lyrics story
through all the
lines,
surfaces, or
challenges of their about very romantic love forever.
love.
edges meet
and form an
The fourth data is about
angle “Photograph” The Time (X) 2014
3 “Alcohol” S2 and Any of a a meaning there is album, this lyrics story about a very
L2 series of something good in
hydroxyl it, something that romantic love.
compounds, can turn into a bad
the simplest mind. The fifth data is about “Give me
of which are
derived from love 2007” album, this lyrics story
saturated
hydrocarbons, about a romantic the more exactly
have the
general reason broken heart.
formula
CnH2n+1OH, From the discussion of the data
and include
ethanol and above, the researcher could be
methanol
discussion that the lyrics of the song
4 “Burn” S2 and
L3
destroy by
fire
smelling. Its mean
that, Basic trust is “Ed Sheeran” told about the smallest
the soul's way of
attuning to a story. After the researcher find out the
fundamental law of
reality, the fact that lexical meaning and contextual
our sense of
existing as a meaning, the researcher gave a short
separate and
isolated entity is story about this song. Beside that, the
false, that our ego
experience of researcher gave to know about the
isolation and
helplessness is an theme of this song. Theme of romance
illusion based on
identification with in a song today while demand among
the world of
physical the young. So, in this research, the
manifestation
researchers chose the theme of
romance. Because of the researchers
Discussion felt that the current youth was more
After the researcher analysis of interested in this theme.
the data, the researcher wants to
disscus for the data about the story of Conclusion
these lyrics song by”Ed Sheeran”. The The researcher conclude that
first data is about “Shape of you” with the reader in the reading the terms have
“Devide (÷)” album. This song told the to know not only lexical meaning here
story of a lover. is the meaning but also contextual
The second data is about “how meaning. The lexical meaning here is
would you feel” with “Devide (÷)” the meaning of the meaning of the
2017 album, this lyrics story about terms used in the lyrics of “Ed
someone who knowing the feeling of Sheeran” songs describe in the lexicon
women he beloved when to declare of or dictionary. The researcher explained
love and hope his love to accept. those as suitable as were wrote in
general dictionary. The researcher want
to show that the meaning of the term

6
used in the lyrics of “Ed Sheeran”
songs from the lexicon or general
dictionary is fairly different from the
meaning in the context. It is different
from the lexical meaning. The
contextual meaning is the terms
explained the actual meaning according
to the situation in which they were
used. In this case, the situation meant
above is terms in the lyrics of “Ed
Sheeran”. Thus, in this discussion is
interesting event unique to be learned
in order to avoid misunderstanding and
misinterpreting.

Suggestion
It was important for further
researcher to conduct their research not
only limited on two kinds of discussion
but also expands deeply the analysis
about semantics.

7
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