A SEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF METHAPHORS IN TAYLOR SWIFT’S SONG LYRICS

• Cindy Simorangkir

  Universitas HKBP Nommensen Pematangsiantar, Indonesia

  Author

• Bernieke Anggita Ristia Damanik

  Universitas HKBP Nommensen Pematangsiantar, Indonesia

  Author

This study delves into the semantic functions and cognitive 
mechanisms underpinning metaphor usage in selected lyrics from 
Taylor Swift’s extensive discography. Recognized as one of the 
leading contemporary singer-songwriters, Swift consistently employs 
metaphorical language as a powerful expressive device to convey 
complex themes including love, heartbreak, personal growth, and 
the negotiation of self-identity. Drawing on Conceptual Metaphor 
Theory (CMT) as the analytical framework, this paper systematically 
examines how her metaphors not only embellish lyrical content but 
also facilitate deeper meaning-making, evoke emotional resonance, 
and enhance the overall narrative structure of her songs. Through 
qualitative content analysis of key tracks spanning different albums, 
the study identifies recurrent conceptual metaphors such as LOVE IS 
A JOURNEY, THE SELF IS A FRACTURED ENTITY, and RELATIONSHIPS 
AS PHYSICAL BATTLES, which articulate intimate emotional 
experiences through culturally shared cognitive models. The findings 
reveal that Swift’s metaphorical language bridges personal 
storytelling with universal human experiences, thereby engaging 
listeners cognitively and emotionally while reflecting broader 
sociocultural understandings of identity and interpersonal dynamics. 
This research contributes to the interdisciplinary fields of cognitive 
linguistics, musicology, and literary studies by highlighting the 
integral role of metaphor in contemporary popular music and its 
capacity to shape both individual and collective meanings. 

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