AN ANALYSIS OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE FOUND IN “PHOSPHORESCENT” SONG LYRICS

This study aims to analyze the types and meanings of figurative language used in the selected song lyrics by the American band Phosphorescent. The data were sourced from official lyrics obtained through the album booklet and the artist’s official Bandcamp page. The research focuses on identifying figurative language expressions and interpreting their meanings using the theory of Perrine (1992) and Leech’s (1992) semantic framework. The method used is qualitative descriptive. The data were collected from eight selected songs by Phosphorescent. The results show the presence of various figurative language types such as Metaphor, Personification, Imagery, Symbolism, Hyperbole, Repetition, Simile, Alliteration, and Rhyme. Each expression is analyzed to determine its type and then interpreted based on Leech’s types of meaning: Conceptual, Connotative, Affective, Reflected, Collocative, Social, and Thematic Meaning. The most dominant type of figurative language found is metaphor, and most of the figurative expressions carry affective and connotative meanings. This study concludes that figurative language in Phosphorescent’s lyrics serves as a powerful tool to convey emotion, imagery, and depth, enhancing the poetic quality and interpretive richness of the songs