Literary Themes- (Conformity/Rebellion)

Literary Themes- (Conformity/Rebellion)

Music is a tool that has been used in society since back in time to address some of the critical issues affecting the community. Music is used given its ability to appeal to the listeners’ critical thinking skills and also manage to play the entertaining responsibility (Reyzábal, 2014). Back during the struggle for independence, various songs that exhibited the theme of rebellion and the struggle for justice were produced. One such song is the Italian resistance movement song Bella Ciao that was used by the partisans to exhibit their readiness to die for their nation and freedom.

The theme of political liberation is evidenced in the song whereby the songwriter says, “If I die a partisan, then I die a partisan and bury me in the hill” this indicates the theme of rebellion that displays the necessity for emancipation from mental as well as physical slavery. The partisans were patriotic citizens who were in opposition to the fascist regime in Italy during the Second World War. The theme of rebellion I evidenced in the history of the song as well given that workers working in the rice fields under the supervision of their colonial masters sang to keep the hope alive for better days ahead.

It is, therefore, possible to see the role that the literary theme in the son plays, which is the role of restoration of hope as well as ensuring that the people involved still have something to live for. This is the exact role that thematic concerns play in the phase of music. The thematic concerns help to determine the intended audience for the musical composition, thereby ensuring that the message is passed on to the intended personnel. Music could, therefore, be identified to be a social tool that plays an essential informative role in society concerning the intended message that the songwriter wants to pass along to the listener.

“One morning I awakened
Oh, Goodbye, beautiful. Goodbye, beautiful. Goodbye, beautiful! Bye! Bye!
One morning I awakened
And I found the invader

Oh partisan carry me away
Oh, Goodbye, beautiful. Goodbye, beautiful. Goodbye, beautiful! Bye! Bye!
Oh partisan carry me away
Because I feel death approaching

And if I die as a partisan
(And if I die on the mountain)
Oh, Goodbye, beautiful. Goodbye, beautiful. Goodbye, beautiful! Bye! Bye!
And if I die as a partisan
(And if I die on the mountain)
Then it would help if you buried me

Bury me up in the mountain
(And you have to bury me)
Oh, Goodbye, beautiful. Goodbye, beautiful. Goodbye, beautiful! Bye! Bye!
Bury me up in the mountain
(And you have to bury me)
Under the shade of a beautiful flower

And the people who shall pass
(And all those who shall pass)
Oh, Goodbye, beautiful. Goodbye, beautiful. Goodbye, beautiful! Bye! Bye!
And the people who shall pass
(And all those who shall pass)
Will tell me: “what a beautiful flower.”
(And they will say: “what a beautiful flower”)

This is the flower of the partisan

(And this is the flower of the partisan)
Oh, Goodbye, beautiful. Goodbye, beautiful. Goodbye, beautiful!
Bye! Bye!
This is the flower of the partisan

(And this is the flower of the partisan)
Who died for freedom.”

References

https://www.oprahmag.com/entertainment/tv-movies/a28785300/bella-ciao-lyrics-meaning/ Reyzábal, M. V. (2014). Literay practice as a way to promote resilence. Procedia, 132, 121-128.