1. If I Die Young
The Band Perry

2. If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song

3. Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother
She'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colors
Oh, and life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no
Ain't even gray, but she buries her baby
The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time

4. If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time
And I'll be wearing white when I come into your kingdom
I'm as green as the ring on my little cold finger
I've never known the loving of a man
But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand
There's a boy here in town, says he'll love me forever
Who would have thought forever could be severed by

5. So put on your best, boys, and I'll wear my pearls
What I never did is done
A penny for my thoughts, oh no, I'll sell 'em for a dollar
They're worth so much more after I'm a goner
And maybe then you'll hear the words I been singing
Funny, when you're dead how people start listening

6. If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
The ballad of a dove
Go with peace and love
Gather up your tears, keep 'em in your pocket
Save them for a time when you're really gonna need them, oh
The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time
So put on your best, boys
And I'll wear my pearls

7. Why this song? Song’s message is interesting
A young person’s death should not be mourned; their life should be celebrated.
Not about love, money, or sex
Most new songs are about one of these topics

8. Speaker Teenage girl Recently deceased Seems very mature
“I’ve never known the loving of a man/ But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand”
Recently deceased
Died in a tragic accident
Car crash, mugging, etc.
Seems very mature
Isn’t selfish; wants her family to be able to move on

9. Figurative Language
Definition: words that are not meant to be interpreted literally
“I’m as green as the ring on my little cold finger”
The speaker is not ACTUALLY the color green
She is referring to the fact that she is young, or new to the world

10. Simile
Definition: A figure of speech comparing two unlike things using “like” or “as”
“I’m as green as the ring on my little cold finger”
Compares the speaker to the ring she is wearing using “as”
They are both new/young

11. End Rhyme
Definition: words with similar ending sounds appear at the end of lines
“The ballad of a dove/ Go with peace and love”
The words “dove” and “love” end with the same sound and also appear at the end of lines

12. Chorus Gives the theme of the song at the beginning “If I die young…”
If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
Gives the theme of the song at the beginning
“If I die young…”
Shows the romantic ideals of youth
She (or he) doesn’t want to be mourned, she would rather have her life remembered
“Send me away with the words of a love song”

13. Concerned about how her family will deal with the loss
Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother She'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colors Oh, and life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no Ain't even gray, but she buries her baby
The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time
Concerned about how her family will deal with the loss
Wishes she could reassure her mother that everything will be okay
Death at a young age is unexpected, but she feels that she has lived a full life

14. She never got to experience love
If I die young, bury me in satin The sharp knife of a short life Lay me down on a bed of roses Well, I've had just enough time Sink me in the river at dawn Send me away with the words of a love song
And I'll be wearing white when I come into your kingdom
I'm as green as the ring on my little cold finger
I've never known the loving of a man
But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand
There's a boy here in town, says he'll love me forever
Who would have thought forever could be severed by
The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time
She never got to experience love
No one plans for death while they are young

15. It is too late to go back and do what she didn’t
So put on your best, boys, and I’ll wear my pearls What I never did is done
A penny for my thoughts, oh no, I’ll sell ‘em for a dollar
They’re worth so much more after I’m a goner
And maybe then you’ll hear the words I been singing
Funny, when you’re dead how people start listening
It is too late to go back and do what she didn’t
People pay more attention to accomplishments and wisdom once the person who did it is dead

16. If I die young, bury me in satin Lay me down on a bed of roses Sink me in the river at dawn Send me away with the words of a love song
The ballad of a dove
Go with peace and love
Gather up your tears, keep ‘em in your pocket
Save them for a time when you’re really gonna need them, oh
The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I’ve had just enough time
So put on your best boys
And I’ll wear my pearls
Her family shouldn’t be sad about her death; there are other things that could be worse

17. Addie Bundren Died at a young age
“If I die young…”
The book makes it seem like Addie is about 46 (not super young, but not a full life either)
Would not want people to cry about her death
“Gather up your tears…”
“I would look forward to the times when they faulted, so I could whip them.”
Does not show normal emotions; wouldn’t want others to waste time and energy on mourning

18. Addie Bundren Was ready to die “Well, I’ve had just enough time”
“He had a word, too. Love, he called it. But I had been used to words for a long time. I knew that that word was like those others: just a shape to fill a lack that when the right time came, you wouldn't need a word for that anymore than for pride or fear.” 
"The reason for living was to get ready to stay dead for a long time"

19. Image of The Band Perry http://farm5. staticflickr
Image of The Band Perry Song lyrics perry.html Definition of simile (Other definitions from textbook)