EXPLORING THE EXPERIENTIAL MEANING OF SONG LYRICS: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW
DOI:
10.54443/sibatik.v4i11.3624Published:
2025-10-26Downloads
Abstract
This paper presents a systematic literature review exploring the experiential meaning of song lyrics, focusing on studies published between 2020 and 2024. Drawing from 21 peer-reviewed articles, the review synthesizes how song lyrics encode and convey lived experience through linguistic and cultural mechanisms. The analysis reveals that Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), particularly transitivity analysis, is the predominant framework used to examine how mental, relational, and material processes construct experiential meaning in lyrics. Additionally, figurative language such as metaphor and personification plays a vital role in symbolizing complex emotions and psychological states. Beyond individual expression, song lyrics are also shown to reflect broader sociocultural narratives related to identity, gender, and power dynamics. These findings underscore the multifaceted nature of experiential meaning, highlighting the interplay between grammatical structures, stylistic devices, and cultural contexts. The review also identifies gaps in the literature, notably the need for more cross-cultural studies and listener reception research. Finally, the paper discusses the pedagogical potential of song lyrics for language learning and suggests future directions integrating multimodal and interdisciplinary approaches. This review contributes to a deeper understanding of how songs serve as powerful vehicles for sharing and interpreting human experience.
Keywords:
experiential meaning song lyrics systemic functional linguistics transitivity analysis figurative languageReferences
Astuti, R. D. (2022). Exploring figurative language in English song lyrics. Proceedings of the International Seminar on Education and Technology, 1(1), 151–158.
Barman, M. P., Awekar, A., & Kothari, S. (2019). Decoding the style and bias of song lyrics. arXiv preprint arXiv:1907.07818.
Betti, L., Abrate, C., & Kaltenbrunner, A. (2022). Large scale analysis of gender bias and sexism in song lyrics. arXiv preprint arXiv:2208.02052.
Booth, A., Sutton, A., & Papaioannou, D. (2016). Systematic approaches to a successful literature review (2nd ed.). Sage.
Cahyani, R. Y. D. (2013). Experiential meaning in the students’ interpretation of song lyrics (Unpublished master’s thesis). Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia.
Dewi, J. I. S., & Mulawarman, M. (2023). Transitivity Analysis of Taylor Swift’s Lyrics in Midnights Album. Indonesian Journal of EFL and Linguistics, 8(2), [page numbers]. https://doi.org/10.21462/ijefl.v8i2.688
Dewi, J. I. S., & Mulawarman, M. (2023). Three speakers’ perspectives on experience in Taylor Swift’s selected lyrics from Folklore album. Rainbow: Journal of Literature, Linguistics and Culture Studies, 11(1), 70–80.
Firdaus, E. A. (2010). Textual meaning in song lyrics: A study of thematic structure in three Dream Theater’s songs. Passage, 1(1), 1–11.
Fitriani, M. R., & Mulyadi, M. (2021). Transitivity process in Billie Eilish’s song “Everything I Wanted.” Journal of Language and Literature Studies, 2(2), 67–75.
Halliday, M. A. K., & Matthiessen, C. M. I. M. (2014). Halliday’s introduction to functional grammar (4th ed.). Routledge.
Jahrir, A. S., Gultom, Y. W., Herman, H., Zabadi, F., Ngongo, M., Mamadiyarov, Z., Fatmawati, E., and Saputra, N. (2025). Investigating the Elements of Short Commercial Mineral Water Advertisement: A Case on Discourse Analysis. Studies in Media and Communication, 13(4), 94-104. https://doi.org/10.11114/smc.v13i4.7813
Laksmi, N. K. N. R., Aryawibawa, I. N., & Sudipa, I. N. (2023). Figurative language in song lyrics of Eloise’s selected songs. Samā Jiva Jnānam (International Journal of Social Studies), 1(1), 55–63.
Liztiawati, T., & Nurhayati, N. (2022). The Representation of the Concept of Love in English Children and Adult Song Lyrics Based on Transitivity. Culturalistics: Journal of Cultural, Literary, and Linguistic Studies, 5(2), [page numbers]. https://doi.org/10.14710/culturalistics.v5i2.12475
Milana, H., & Ardi, H. (2021). An analysis of figurative language in the song lyrics by Saif Adam. ELL: English Language and Literature, 9(3). https://doi.org/10.24036/ell.v9i3.111364
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., ... & Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372, n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
Purwandari, S. A., Nuruddin, D., Waliyadin, W., & Syafii, M. (2022). The Analysis of the Song Lyrics of the Energy of Asia Music Album from the Perspective of Systemic Functional Grammar. IDEAS: Journal on English Language Teaching and Learning, Linguistics and Literature, 10(1), 718 729. https://doi.org/10.24256/ideas.v10i1.2781
Purworejo, S., Tusino, T., & Dewi, B. R. C. (2023). Lexical and contextual meanings in song lyrics “Moana Original Soundtrack”: Pedagogical implication. English Review: Journal of English Education, 11(2), 413 422. https://doi.org/10.25134/erjee.v11i2.6919
Puspitasari, M. I., Baity, A. N., & Jupply, D. (2022). The Walters songwriter's emotions and feelings of “I Love You So”. DIKSI, 30(2). https://doi.org/10.21831/diksi.v30i2.46569
Putri, R. P. (2022). Semantics analysis of contextual meaning in Part of Your World’s song lyrics. Scripta: Jurnal Ilmiah Mahasiswa, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.33019/scripta.v5i1.236
Rahmawati, R., Tannuary, A., Herman, H., Situmorang, A. E., Napitupulu, Y. E., Hutapea, D. K., Pangaribuan, S. S., Sihotang, E. R. (2025). Functional grammar study: Analyzing the Batak proverb "Dalihan Natolu" from the perspective of systemic functional grammar. Indonesian EFL Journal, 11(2), 159-168. https://doi.org/10.25134/ieflj.v11i2.11767
Siahaan, H. V. F. (2021). Transitivity Process In Bon Jovi’s Selected Song Lyrics. International Journal of English and Applied Linguistics (IJEAL), 1(2), 117 125. https://doi.org/10.47709/ijeal.v1i2.1043
Sinaga, Y. K., Murni Situmorang, N., Purba, E., Sitompul, H. T., Panjaitan, A., Herman, H., & Thao, N. V. (2023). Conveying the meaning through experiential metafunction on song lyrics: A case on ideational metafunction. Anglophile Journal, 3(2), 109 117. https://doi.org/10.51278/anglophile.v3i2.805
Silalahi, T. F., R. Purba, S. M. Manurung, I. P. Purba, L. Butar Butar, H. Herman, Junita Batubara, & Arwin Tannuary. (2024). Learning the Meaning of Song Lyrics through the Elements of Ideational Metafunction: A Case on Systemic Functional Linguistics. Anglophile Journal, 4(1), 61 76. https://doi.org/10.51278/anglophile.v4i1.413
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Lasyuli Simbolon, Jumino Suhadi, Devi Pratiwy
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Downloads
How to Cite
