HYPERBOLE IN WHEN YOU BELIEVE AND HERO LYRIC

BY MARIAH CAREY’S SONG

Fitria Wulandari *) Mayuasti, M.Pd **) Melati Theresia, S.S, M.Hum ***)
*) Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, STKIP PGRI Sumatera Barat
Email: fitriawulandari212@gmail.com
**) Staf Pengajar Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, STKIP PGRI Sumatera Barat
Email: mayuasti@gmail.com
***) Staf Pengajar Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, STKIP PGRI Sumatera Barat
Email: bukittinggi511@gmail.com

Abstract

This research is about analysis hyperbole that used in the lyric of song. The main problem
in this research is about to find out the hyperbole that used in the lyric of Mariah Carey‟s songs
that entitled are When You Believe dan Hero. In this research, the sources of data is by using
qualitative method in content analysis. The researcher used the lyric of song as the sources of
data. Technique of collecting the data is by reading. Based on this research, the researcher
conclude that in analysis the literary work especially the lyric of Mariah Carey‟s songs that
entitled are When You Believe and Hero, the researcher only focusses on hyperbole and the
meaning that contain on it. Based on the result of the research, there are eight hyperbole that are
found in the lyric of Mariah Carey‟s song that entitled are When You Believe and Hero. In When
You Believe’s lyric of song, there are four hyperbole and in Hero’s lyric of song there are four
hyperbole too. The theme of both songs is about motivation in life.

Penelitian ini adalah tentang menganalisis majas hiperbola yang digunakan di dalam lirik
lagu. Masalah utama dalam penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui majas hiperbola yang terdapat
dalam lirik lagu dari Mariah Carey yang berjudul When You Believe dan Hero. Sumber utama data
penelitian dilakukan dengan menggunakan metode kualitatif yang dirancang dalam content
analysis. Peneliti menggunakan sumber utama data yaitu teks dari lirik lagu yang akan diteliti.
Metode pengumpulan data adalah membaca. Berdasarkan penelitian ini, peneliti menyimpulkan
bahwa dalam menganalisis karya sastra, terutama untuk lirik lagu When You Believe dan Hero,
peneliti hanya fokus pada majas hiperbola dan makna yang terkandung di dalamnya. Berdasarkan
hasil analisis, peneliti mengungkapkan bahwa ada delapan majas hiperbola yang ditemukan di
dalam lirik lagu When You Believe dan Hero. Didalam lirik lagu When You Believe terdapat empat
majas hiperbola dan dilirik lagu Hero juga terdapat empat majas hiperbole. Tema dari kedua judul
lagu tersebut adalah tentang motivasi hidup.

Key Words: Figurative language, Hyperbole, Song lyric.

INTRODUCTION itself. There are many types of figurative

Many authors use figurative language
to create a special effect or feeling.
Figurative language can be characterized
with language that compares, exaggerates, or
means something other than what it first
appears to mean. Spivey (2011) stated that,
figurative language is used to describe an
object, person, or situation by comparing it
to or with something else. It is because
figurative language has an art in language
language, they are simile, metaphor,
personification, onomatopoeia, hyperbole,
idiom, and clichés. In this case, the
researcher only focuses on hyperbole.
Hyperbole is belonging to one of the
figurative language‟s types. In other words,
hyperbole is an expression to make
something looks bigger or greater than is
really is.

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 For example:
“Dad drank a million gallons of water
after his run.”
(Spivey: 2011)
Based on the statement above, “a
million gallons” is one of example of
hyperbole. The people know that this is not
possible. Usually, the people drink the water
only some of glasses. However, in this case,
the hyperbole statement shows that how very
thirsty the father after his run. The
exaggeration of million gallons is simply for
emphasis to describe the large quantity of
water Dad actually drank.
The primary function of hyperbole itself
is to intensify an utterance. Besides of that,
hyperbole is also used to gain the people‟s
attention. According to Ronald Carter
(2004), hyperbole function is often used to
mark solidarity and mutuality between
speakers as well as to gain attention. It
means by using hyperbole, it can gain the
people‟s attention who read or hear the
literary works. Now day, figurative language
included hyperbole is uses in any form of
communication, such as in daily
conversation, articles in newspaper,
advertisement, novels, poems, drama, and
song. In this case, the researcher chose song
as an object that the researcher want to
analyze.
Song is one kinds of currents
development in literary works. Song is very
beautiful things for hearing. Song consists of
lyric with music and sound. According to
Longman (2001), song is a genre
designation, but a broad one. It indicates a
literary text with a musical accompaniment.
In other words, song is consist of text that
called by lyrics and also sound. If lyrics
accompanied by sounds, rhythm, and music
instrument, it can be called as a song.
Usually, some songs are related to someone
experience in life. It means that the song‟s
writer create a song based on their own
experiences. Songs has a theme. Songs is
also an effective way in delivering the
message. It can be seen from the way people
use the songs as a media to deliver their
feeling to others. When someone listening to
the songs that especially contains of
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hyperbole, they can get the depth feeling of
that songs. It is because, by using figurative
language, the author can deliver the message
more deeply and makes the listeners and the
readers become anxiety and touched.
Usually, talking about songs, people get
easily interested in. Song can easily interest
the people because song not only consist of
lyrics but also have rhythm and sound.
However, listening to a song, it is not only
listening to the music but also have to find
out the meaning and message of the song
itself. To understand the meaning and knows
the messages of songs is not easy, especially
when the lyric of song are full of figurative
language such as hyperbole which have
connotative meaning inside them. In this
research, the researcher chose Mariah
Carey‟s songs as the object.
Mariah Carey is one of famous singer in
the world. She is also a songwriter. Some of
the songs are related to her experiences in
life. She puts her feels into the songs to
express her feeling or emotion. However, in
this research, the researcher chose Mariah
Carey‟s songs that entitled are When you
Believe and Hero as the objects of this
study.
In this research, the researcher has
some purposes, they are; to find out the
hyperbole that are used in the lyric of
Mariah Carey‟s songs that entitled are When
You Believe and Hero and to know the
meaning of hyperbole that are used in the
lyric of Mariah Carey‟s songs that entitled
are When You Believe and Hero.
RESEARCH METHOD
In this research, the researcher
analyzed the hyperbole that used in Mariah
Carey‟s song lyrics. This study was kind of
qualitative research that designed in content
analysis. According to Mayring (2000), the
object of (qualitative) content analysis can
be all sort of recorded communication
(transcripts of interviews, discourses,
protocols of observations, video tapes,
documents). It means, the object or the data
that can be taken is such as transcripts of
interview, protocols of observation, video
tapes, and documents. This research is
appropriate with this design, because the
object of this research is text data or
document script that is the lyric of Mariah
Carey‟s songs.
The object of this research was
hyperbole that used in lyric of Mariah
Carey‟s songs that entitled are Hero and
When You Believe. Based on the researcher
pre observation, the researcher chose that
songs, because the song has the depth
meaning, it is about motivation in life.
In this research, source of data was
the lyric of songs. Song that will be the data
sources is the lyric of Mariah Carey‟s songs
that entitled are When You Believe and Hero.
Source of data will be taken from the
internet by searching the lyric of songs.
The technique of collecting the data
in this research was by reading the lyric of
song many times in order to understand the
meaning of the song. According to
Endraswara (2011), pengadaan data karya
sastra, dilakukan melalui pembacaan secara
cermat. Pembacaan berulang-ulang akan
membantu peneliti mengadakan data.
Reading carefully is needed to collecting the
data. By reading the lyric of songs in many
times, it will help the researcher get the data.
In doing the research, the researcher
collects the data that taken from Mariah
Carey‟s song lyrics. Collecting the data is an
activity which should be done before doing
the research. In this research, the researcher
did some steps in collecting the data. First,
the researcher search the lyric of songs by
searching in internet. After that, the
researcher reads the lyric of songs carefully
and learning the key words of the lyric in
many times until the researcher understand
what the songs about. The last, the
researcher will classified the lyric of songs
that contain of hyperbole.
After collecting the data, the
researcher analyzed the data to answer the
research question and get the result of this
research. Analyzing of the data was done by
description each data according to Miles and
Huberman (2014), which consist of three
activities: data condensation, data display,
and drawing and verification conclusion.
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1. Data Condensation
Data condensation is form of analysis
that sharpens, short, focuses, discards,
and organizes data in such way that
„final‟ conclusion can be drawn and
verified. In this stage, the researcher
classified the data based on hyperbole
and drew the conclusion.
2. Data Display
Generically, a display is an organized,
compressed assembly of information
that permits conclusion drawing and
action. It means that the researcher
organized the information and displays
the information in analysis form, so the
object of the research can be seen.
3. Drawing and Verification
Conclusion
The third stream of analysis activity is
conclusion drawing and verification.
Conclusion is also verified as the
analysis proceeds. Verification may be
as brief as fleeting second thought
crossing the researcher‟s mind during
writing with a short excursion back to
the field notes, or it may be thorough
and elaborate, with lengthy
argumentation and review among
colleagues. It means that the researcher
drew the conclusion based on
organized information inductively and
brief review to the field notes and got
necessary data.
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
Research finding is important part in
this research. Research finding is result by
data analyzed activities. The findings must
be appropriate with research questions. After
the researcher presented and analyzed the
data, the researcher has found eight
hyperboles that contain on the lyric of
Mariah Carey‟s songs that entitled are When
You Believe and Hero.
Based on the analysis above, the
researcher chose When You Believe and
Hero songs by Mariah Carey. The researcher
found eight of hyperbole that contain on that
songs. In When You Believe lyric, there are
four hyperboles. They are; in our hearts a
hopeful song, we were moving mountains;
my hearts so full; and but when you’re
blinded by your pain. Besides, in Hero lyric,
the researcher found four hyperboles that
contain on it. They are; there’s a hero, if you
look inside your heart; and the sorrow that
you know, will melt away; when you face the
world alone, and dream are hard to follow.
Datum no 1:
In our hearts a hopeful song, we barely
understood
(When You Believe by Mariah Carey)
Based on oxford dictionary, the word “song”
is a short piece of music with words that you
sing. Besides, in thesaurus dictionary, the
word “song” is a short musical composition
that is intended to by sung, ballad or
collection of sounds made by a bird or other
animal or poetry. On the other hand, in the
lyric of song, there is a phrase “in our hearts
a hopeful song.” That phrases is hyperbole,
because the people knows that hearts can
sing. But, in the lyric of song, the word
“song” has different meaning depend on the
context. The meaning of the word “song” is
pray. It is useful to make the lyric more
beautiful, in order to make the reader or
listener interested. The phrase of “in our
hearts a hopeful songs” means that a hope
expression to the lord. Usually, the people
called it by pray. In pray, the people express
all of things that they want to say to the lord.
It means, there is no reason to afraid of
anything as long as you close with your lord.
Datum no 2:
We were moving mountains, long before we
knew we could
(When You Believe by Mariah Carey)
Based on the lyric above, the phrase “we
were moving mountains” is included of
hyperbole. It is impossible to the people
moving the mountains. The people know,
mountain is very big thing. It is very
impossible to move it to another place. In
generally, based on the oxford dictionary,
the word “mountain” is a large natural
elevation of the earth‟s surface rising
abruptly from the surrounding level, a large
steep hill. In thesaurus dictionary, the word
“mountain” is large elevated area on the
4
earth‟s surface that rises to a summit, hill.
Based on the lyric above, the word
“mountain” has different meaning. It is
depend on the context. The phrase “we were
moving mountains, long before we knew we
could” means that we have to belief our self.
Actually, the people can do something
bigger or greater as they wants, as long as
they belief to their self. All of the dreams
can be true, if the people believe to their
self. (When You Believe b
Datum no 3:
My heart’s so full, I can’t explain
(When You Believe by Mariah Carey)
Generally, based on the dictionary, the word
“full” is containing or holding as much or as
many as possible, having no empty space.
For example, the glass is full of water.
Besides, in thesaurus dictionary, the word
“full” is make fuller or complete capacity. In
that cas e, it is the act that can be seen by the
people. On the other hand, in that phrase of
“my heart’s so full” is impossible. It is
exaggeration, because it cannot be seen by
the people. The people do not know how to
fill a heart. In this lyric, the phrase of “my
heart’s so full” is has different meaning
inside on it. The word “full” means that all
of the people‟s burdens or problems. The
phrase of “my heart’s so full”, it means that
the people who confused and tired about
their life. All of the people has a problem.
Datum no 4: Datum no 2:
But when you’re blinded by your pain
(When You Believe by Mariah Carey)
(When You Believe b
In general, based on oxford dictionary, the
word “blinded” is unable to see because of
injury, disease, or a congenital condition. In
thesaurus, the word “blinded” is make
unable to see. Besides, based on oxford
dictionary, the word “pain” is the feeling
that you have in your body when you have
been hurt or when you are ill or sick. In
thesaurus dictionary, the word “pain” is
sensation of physical discomfort (often due
to illness or injury) or hurt cause pain. On
the other hand, the word “blinded” and
“pain” that used in the lyric of song has
different meaning. The phrase “when you’re
blinded by your pain” is hyperbole because
usually pain is not possible to blinded. The
people know that something can be blinded
is only eyes. But in this lyric of song, the
meaning of that word has different sense to
make the lyric of song more interesting. It
useful to make the people attention to that
phrase and enciety to know the true
meaning. The phrase “when you’re blinded
by your pain” is about feeling surrender. If
you feel give in for your life, there is no
hope for the better life.
Datum no 5:
There’s a hero, if you look inside your
heart
(Hero by Mariah Carey)
The word “hero”, based on oxford
dictionary, means that very brave person,
one who has committed a courageous act,
primary male character (of a story, play,
etc). Based on thesaurus dictionary, the word
“hero” means a person, typically a man, who
is admired for their courage, outstanding
achievements or noble qualities. In the lyric
of the song, there is a phrase “there’s a hero,
if you look inside your heart.” That phrase is
overstatement. It is because the word “hero”
here is not someone who has a super power
to protect the world or fight the enemy until
died as the people know in novels or movies.
It is not like that. The word “hero” in that
phrase is has different meaning. It means the
strengthness. The people know that each of
them has the strengthness and the weakness.
The people have to belief to their self. There
must be something special of their self. In
this lyric, the phrase “there’s a hero, if you
look inside your heart” means that the
people have to know or understand about
their self. The people have to know their self
better than anyone else. Usually, each of the
people are different. They have the weakness
and also the strengthness inside of them. So
that, as the people do not too focus on
evaluate the weakness. The people also have
the strengthness inside of them. The people
have to find it and believe that the people
can do all of that the people want to do.
5
Datum no 6:
And the sorrow that you know, will melt
away
(Hero by Mariah Carey)
In general, based on oxford dictionary, the
word “sorrow” is a feeling of great sadness
because something very bad has happened.
Besides, based on thesaurus dictionary, the
word “sorrow” is expression of suffering or
sadness, grieving. Based on oxford
dictionary, the word “melt” is to become or
to make something become liquid as a result
of heating. In thesaurus dictionary, the word
“melt” is heat until liquid or be heated until
turning to liquid. In this lyric, the phrase
“and the sorrow that you know, will melt
away” is overstatement. As the people
know,
The word
the word
“hero”,
“melt”,
baseditonuse
oxford
for making
dictionary, means that very b
something solid become liquid such as ice. It
is happen because there is a reason, for
example by heating. On the other hand, in
that lyric of song, the word “melt” is used
for “sorrow”. As the people know, the word
“sorrow” is a human feeling. It cannot be
liquid. The word “melt” that use in the lyric
of song is implies to go away or can be
solved. So that, the meaning of “and the
sorrow that you know will melt away” is
about something trouble can be solved if you
believe that you can. There are many
problems in the people‟s life. Therefore, the
people have to keep on to makes the dreams
come true. Actually, the people do not ever
think about the problem as the burden or
obstacles, because the problem has the
solution. The people have to believe on their
self to make the dreams come true.
Datum no 7:
It’s a long road, when you face the world
alone
(Hero by Mariah Carey)
The meaning of word “world” based on
oxford dictionary is the earth, together with
all of the countries and peoples. In thesaurus
dictionary, the word “world” is planet or
globe, particular part of earth. Besides, the
word “face” based on oxford dictionary is
the front part of a person‟s head from the
forehead to the chin, or the corresponding
part in an animal. In thesaurus dictionary,
the word “face” is front part of the head with
the eyes, nose, and mouth; facial expression.
In that phrase “when you face the world
alone” is described as hyperbole. As the
people know, world is something biggest
that anyone could not see by easy way. On
the other hand, the phrase above used the
word “world” to make another sense. In this
lyric, the word “world” means that
something around you, included the
environment, the people, and all of things
that you can see. The meaning of that phrase
is someone who alone. Actually, as the
human society, each of the people must be
held each others. As the people have to look
around. If there is someone who needs a
help, properly it cannot be the problem to
help them. There is no one who can life
alone. If the people feel alone and no one
can help, stay focusses on looking for the
identity and find out the strengthness.
Datum no 8:
Lords knows, dreams are hard to follow
(Hero by Mariah Carey)
The meaning of the word “dreams” based on
oxford dictionary is a series of thoughts,
images, and sensations occuring in a
person‟s mind during sleep. In thesaurus
dictionary, the word “dream” is have
thoughts and visions while sleeping. The
meaning of the word “follow” based on
oxford dictionary is usually included of
someone or direction. Besides, in thesaurus
dictionary, the word “follow” is go after,
pursue, so along, drive along. The people
know that the dream is something that
cannot be true in the real life. It is only
happen while the people sleeping. Because
of that, the phrase “dreams are hard to
follow” can be described as an expression of
overstatement. The word “dream” is used to
express a human hopes. In the real life,
sometime all of things that the people want
to happen is not working as they want. There
are many obstacles to make it happen. But,
do not let anyone make your hope is gone.
There is another time to make it happen, just
hold on and keep spirit.
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CONCLUSION
After analyzing the lyric of Mariah
Carey‟s songs that entitled are When You
Believe and Hero in chapter IV, the
researcher finally takes the conclusions.
Regarding the first problem, the researcher
wants to find out the hyperbole in the lyric
of that song. After took the data, the
researcher concludes that the lyric of songs
using hyperbole. The researcher found eight
hyperboles that contain in both of the lyric
of songs. In When You Believe lyric, there
are four hyperboles. They are: in our hearts
a hopeful song; we were moving mountains;
my heart’s so full; and but when you’re
blinded by your pain. Meanwhile, in Hero
lyric, there are four hyperboles that contain
on the lyric. They are; there’s a hero, if you
look inside your heart; and the sorrow that
you know, will melt away; when you face the
world alone; and dreams are hard to follow.
Lyric of song can be function as a media to
learn about hyperbole. Hyperbole that used
in the lyric of song, it is useful to make the
lyric of song more beautiful and reach, in
order to make the hearer or the reader pay
attention in that phrase. Based on the theory
in chapter II, one of function of hyperbole
itself is to take the people‟s attention.
Besides, in the lyric of Mariah Carey‟s songs
that entitled are When You Believe and Hero,
there is a good message contain on it. It is
about motivation in life.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The researcher delivers a great thank
and appreciation to the great advisors
Mayuasti, M.Pd and Melati Theresia, S.S,
M.Hum. Thank you for time, chance,
support, guidance, patient, and advice that
had given to the researcher in finishing this
thesis.
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