Rhetorical Analysis Jack Johnson’s “Gone”

Context The context of the song is how too many people are obsessed with objects and buying junk. These people center their lives around unnecessary materials too much. Too many Americans are going down this path where they begin to lose respect for themselves and others. “And cars and phones and diamond rings / Bling, bling, because those are only removable things / And what about your mind? Does it shine? / Are there things that concern you, more than your time?”

The Purpose The purpose of the song is to criticize money-driven, materialistic people. If all of these purchased items were gone, would these people still have value? It’s not that one should surpass buying expensive or unneeded things, but that one should not dedicate themselves to materials. Gone, going / Gone, everything / Gone, give a damn / Gone, be the birds, when they don’t wanna sing / Gone, people, all awkward with their things / Gone. “Leave your footprints / And we’ll shame them with our words. / Gone, people, all careless and consumed, gone…”

Ethos He established his ethos in the lyrics by laying out the foundation that he is also a casual American like his audience. He is credible because he uses simple facts and a legitimate, logical hypothetical situation. “Look at all those fancy clothes / But these could keep us warm just like those / And what about your soul? Is it cold? / Is it straight from the mold, and ready to be sold?” And what about your mind? Does it shine? / Are there things that concern you, more than your time?

How does ethos help the argument? By establishing his ethos as a casual American, Jack becomes more relatable and his purpose becomes more believable. He becomes a legitimate spokesperson for the subject because he is wealthy from his music career and has not become corrupt by money.

Audience Primary: Money-driven people and those who must involve themselves with these materialists. Secondary: Fans of acoustic, soft-rock/guitar music. “Look at all those fancy clothes / But these could keep us warm just like those / And what about your soul? Is it cold? / Is it straight from the mold, and ready to be sold?”

Logos Logos is established by using simple facts and by comparing materialists to more modest people. Johnson’s first logical point is how expensive items, like clothes, have no more use than the cheaper options for those items. He then uses a hypothetical situation to express that dedicated materialists have no value and are shameful. “Look at all those fancy clothes / But these could keep us warm just like those / And what about your soul? Is it cold? / Is it straight from the mold, and ready to be sold?” “Gone, going / Gone, everything / Gone, give a damn / Gone, be the birds, when they don’t wanna sing / Gone, people, all awkward with their things / Gone.”

Is the message logical? The message of the song is logical because the situation is legitimate describing the lives of everyday Americans so people can relate. Also, the situation seems pretty one-sided. It makes sense for people to strive to be more modest, but it doesn’t make sense for people to aim to be more materialistic. “And cars and phones and diamond rings / Bling, bling, because those are only removable things / And what about your mind? Does it shine? / Are there things that concern you, more than your time?” “Leave your footprints, And we’ll shame them with our words. Gone, people, all careless and consumed, gone…”

Pathos The speaker addresses his target audience (the materialists) directly by using “you.” He wants to provoke guilt and remorse to the materialists. And he provokes pity and sympathy to those who must be involved with the materialistic people. Look at you, out to make a deal / You try to be appealing, but you lose your appeal / And what about those shoes you’re in today? / They’ll do no good, on the bridges you burnt along the way. “Leave your footprints / And we’ll shame them with our words / Gone, people, all careless and consumed / gone…”

How does pathos help the argument? Using the appeal to emotions, Jack helps motivate the corrupt-minded to feel sorry and guilty. Then they must resolve the emotions by moving towards modesty. The emotions can motivate the corrupt to restore their own value and ethics.

Works Cited www.azlyrics.com “Jack Johnson Lyrics: Gone” lordygee14@ahoo.com 10/1/10 http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jackjohnson/gone.html