This paper will present a study of rock and other song lyrics about intimacy loss, from the 1960s to the present, using a close-reading approach to interpret the meaning conveyed to the listeners. The focus will be on themes of growing detachment from a romantic partner and the stages involved in the loss of love. Among the songs examined will be those depicting first doubts, time apart, relationship difficulties, resignation over a relationship’s failure, the break-up process, trouble letting go, assessment of an ended relationship, and, finally, memories of the lost love. This presentation should show that song lyrics of the last fifty years communicate well the complexities of uncoupling.
About the presenterDavid C. Wright Jr.
David C. Wright, Jr. is Professor in the Department of History and Government at Misericordia University in Dallas, PA. Trained as an historian of modern France at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, more recently, he has presented conference papers on detective fiction, fantasy and science fiction, and rock music. He is co-editor of, and contributor to, “Space and Time: Essays on Visions of History in Science Fiction and Fantasy Television,” published by McFarland.