An Analysis of Conceptual Metaphor in Decalius' Selected Song Lyrics

Ibrani, Wahyu Tri (2026) An Analysis of Conceptual Metaphor in Decalius' Selected Song Lyrics. S1 thesis, Universitas Andalas.

	Text (01. Cover & Abstract) 01. Cover & Abstract.pdf - Published Version Download (1MB)
	Text (02. BAB I) 02. BAB I.pdf - Published Version Download (290kB)
	Text (03. BAB IV) 03. BAB IV.pdf - Published Version Download (145kB)
	Text (04. Daftar Pustaka) 04. Daftar Pustaka.pdf - Published Version Download (156kB)
	Text (05. Skripsi Fulltext) 05. Skripsi Fulltext.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (1MB) | Request a copy

Abstract

This study examines the conceptual metaphors found in six selected song lyrics by Decalius, a one-man Depressive Suicidal Black Metal (DSBM) project from the United States. The primary aim of this research is to identify the types of conceptual metaphors present in the lyrics and to examine the thematic patterns they construct. This research applies Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) as proposed by Lakoff and Johnson (1980) and further developed by Kövecses (2010) as the main analytical framework. A qualitative descriptive method is employed, with data drawn from six songs: Hated by Life Itself, Unfair…, and Unknown from the EP Hated by Life Itself (2022), as well as Shotgun, Inside…, and A Miserable Life… from the album Dehumanizing Loneliness (2023). Metaphorical expressions were identified using the Metaphor Identification Procedure (MIP) developed by the Pragglejaz Group (2007). The findings reveal that all three types of conceptual metaphors are present across the selected lyrics: ontological, structural, and orientational, with ontological metaphors appearing most frequently, consistently representing abstract psychological states as physical objects or substances located within the body. Structural metaphors organize complex existential experiences through familiar schemas such as conflict, planning, and identity transformation, while orientational metaphors reinforce emotional states through spatial and directional mappings. In terms of thematic representation, the metaphors identified across the corpus construct a wide range of specific themes that cluster into three interconnected patterns: psychological suffering, social marginalization, and suicidal ideation. These clusters are not predetermined but emerge inductively from the metaphorical patterns found in the data, reflecting a layered system in which internal pain, social exclusion, and existential resolution reinforce one another. The study concludes that metaphor in DSBM lyrics functions not only as a poetic device but as a fundamental cognitive mechanism for structuring and communicating extreme emotional experiences, contributing to a more nuanced linguistic understanding of an understudied musical genre. Keywords: conceptual metaphor, Depressive Suicidal Black Metal, song lyrics, Decalius, psychological suffering, social marginalization, suicidal ideation

Actions (login required)

View Item