SEMANTICAL ANALYSIS OF CONTEXTUAL MEANING IN ALL TOO WELL (10 MINUTE VERSION) SONG LYRICS

• Mita Herliana

  Universitas Mathla’ul Anwar

  Author

• Riandi

  Universitas Mathla’ul Anwar

  Author

• Ade Sudirman

  Universitas Mathla’ul Anwar

  Author

This study aims to analyze the contextual meaning in the song lyrics of "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" by Taylor Swift using a qualitative descriptive method. The focus of this study is on uncovering how contextual elements influence the semantic interpretation of the lyrics, based on John Lyons’ theory of six types of context: person, place, time, mood, formality, and subject matter. The problem underlying this research is that song lyrics often contain implicit meanings that require contextual understanding for deeper interpretation. Data were collected through a library research approach, in which the song lyrics served as the primary written source. The researcher acted as the main instrument and followed several steps: reducing the data by identifying relevant lines, displaying the data by organizing contextual findings into a table, and drawing conclusions based on recurring themes and emotional nuances.The results showed that mood is the most dominant context throughout the lyrics, reflecting emotional shifts from nostalgia to heartbreak and resentment. Other contexts such as person and time also appeared frequently, supporting the narrative structure of the song. Not all lyric lines were analyzed individually, as some carried repeated or similar meanings; instead, interpretation focused on key stanzas where contextual meaning was most evident. In conclusion, the study reveals that contextual meaning plays a significant role in shaping the listener’s understanding of the song’s emotional message. The use of John Lyons’ framework effectively highlighted the layered semantics embedded in Taylor Swift’s songwriting.

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