Lyrical trick name, give me more examples

November 30, 2024 7:15 AM

In the song "I'm Not Dead" by Charly Bliss, she sings "I was wrong, but it sounded right". Later in the song she sings "I was right, but it came out wrong". Apart from wordplay, is there a name for this particular twist, where the lyrics are switched and have a different meaning? And what are some other examples? Either music, or poetry, or whatever

"Skintercourse", by Menomena, has a more complicated version of this, where three stanzas are repeated, with changes that indicate the singer has become (bitter, angry, vindictive, an asshole, possibly a murderer), one pair of which is:

Now I'm overlooked and undertouched
I overcompensated for such
And I can't get back to where I once was

becomes

Now I'm underdressed and overtouched
I didn't think that I'd like it so much
And I won't go back to where I once was

posted by Gorgik to Media & Arts (10 answers total)

Most of these rhetorical/literary flourishes can fit into many named types. The AB/BA pattern of the first example is a key feature of Chiasmus and Antimetabole, the latter being where words are repeated.

Wikipedia gives the example "Pleasure's a sin, and sometimes sin's a pleasure.", another common one is "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country".
posted by SaltySalticid at 7:33 AM on November 30

The verses for "Are You a Hypnotist?" by the Flaming Lips are this kind of thing:
I had forgiven you for tricking me again
But I have been tricked again into forgiving you

And some of the Sphinx's advice in Mystery Men:
When you can balance a tack hammer on your head, you will head off your foes with a balanced attack
posted by LionIndex at 7:44 AM on November 30

The Mercy Seat by Nick Cave feels like a relentless exercise in this kind of repetition-with-differences, building to the finale when “Anyway I told the truth / And I’m not afraid to die” becomes “Anyway I told the truth / But I’m afraid I told a lie”

IMO the Johnny Cash version makes the switch even more devastating.
posted by rd45 at 7:51 AM on November 30

My first thought was "Right Place Wrong Time" by Dr. John.
posted by indexy at 8:27 AM on November 30

Canonically, I've got my mind on my money and my money on my mind.
posted by less-of-course at 11:38 AM on November 30

Villanelle?
posted by Martha My Dear Prudence at 12:35 PM on November 30

Elvis Costello, "Accidents Will Happen"

Your mind is made up, but your mouth is undone
...Your mouth is made up, but your mind is undone

Antimetabole?
posted by table of malcontents at 1:52 PM on November 30

I think the rhetorical device used in your example is more chiasmus than antimetabole, because the same meaning is used, but not the same word choice, but either term should lead you to more useful info.
posted by stormyteal at 2:21 PM on November 30

I want to say that Taylor swift does this a lot.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 4:40 PM on November 30

Modest mouse does this on “talking shit about a pretty sunset”:

“I've changed my mind so much I can't even trust it
My mind changed me so much I can't even trust myself”
posted by MisantropicPainforest at 11:22 AM on December 1