The Holes in my Title

I chose the song "Holes" by James Veck Gilodi to defend as poetry. The song itself does not belong to an album, but can be found on Youtube.

The central idea of this song revolves around regrets, and the speaker’s desire to change. The theme is: Being jealous of others experiences leads to bitterness and a lack of fulfillment. The only way to be truly happy is to disregard of the status of others, and live your own life according to your aspirations.

The purpose of the song is to explore the speaker’s attitude in the past. Growing up, he let his jealousy of “privileged” kids consume him, leaving him bitter and even more disadvantaged. This song allows the speaker a chance to acknowledge his poor choices and move on. The speaker is most likely the singer himself (James Veck Gilodi), as he has claimed that several times in interviews. The song takes place both in the present and in flashbacks, as the speaker recognizes his current situation as a result of his past behavior. The song serves as both a reflection for himself and an admonition to others growing up with similar attitudes.

Onomatopoeia is used effectively at the very beginning of the song, with the speaker’s friend admonishing him for being a “drifter/ for far too long now son.” The sound of the word “drifter” brings to mind the image of wafting smoke, easily swayed by outside forces. As the song progresses, this depiction of the speaker proves more and more accurate, strengthening the use of the onomatopoeia. The speaker denies his drifting ways at first, claiming that forces beyond his control have shaped his fate, but comes to terms with his poor conduct in both the chorus and second verse.

The chorus makes effective use of simile, especially with the line: “Cause I've got holes in all my jeans, Just like the holes I burnt through my dreams.” The combination of simile and imagery brings together a couple of ideas. If someone has holes in their jeans, they typically belong to a lower socioeconomic class, and the speaker draws a comparison between his attitude towards his class and his failure to achieve his goals.

Metaphor is also used liberally throughout the song. Most strikingly, when the speaker refers to the “song inside [his] brain.” That specific use of metaphor evokes a feeling of restlessness, as if the speaker feels trapped by his station and previous actions. It adds to the motivation the speaker feels to alter his current attitudes.