1. The Perfect Space
By The Avett Brothers

2. T – Title
Based only on the title, The Perfect Space, I predict that the song will be about finding a place that you believe to be perfect. This might not be the perfect space for everyone, but for you it is.

3. P – Paraphrase
I want friends who will accept me the way that I am now and who will give me space when I need it.
I want to find a space where I feel comfortable and safe.
I want to live a long life without any pain or complaints.
Will you understand what I want and who I am when I get to be too old?
Okay, the party is over and it’s time to leave.
I have some things I need to take care of and I don’t care what you think or heard about me.
I want to be proud of who I am, like my mother is proud of who she is.
I want my friends to love me for me.

4. C – Connotation (F – Figurative Language)
1. Repetition –
“I wanna…” is repeated throughout the song. “I wanna have friends…”, “I wanna have friends…”, “I wanna fit in…”
This is obviously repetition that is used to show that the singer is sharing something that he desires.
2. Repetition –
“Who did we borrow from? Who did we borrow from?” This question is repeated back to back, but also a couple of times during the song
This repetition is used to emphasize the question to the listener. Repeating the question leads the listener to focus on the importance of the question.

5. C – Connotation (F – Figurative Language)
3. Rhyme
In the second verse, there is an A, A, B, B rhyme scheme.
The words “space” and “place” rhyme. So do the words “pain” and “complain.”
4. Rhetorical Questioning –
Part of the chorus says, “Will you understand when I am too old of a man? And will you forget when we have paid our debt? Who did we borrow from? Who did we borrow from?”
These questions are used to guide the listener to thinking about what is being questioned. Because no answer from the listener is expected, they can answer freely in their own mind.

6. C – Connotation (F – Figurative Language)
5. Rhythm –
At the shift in the song, the rhythm increases. It slows back down again at the end of the song.
This rhythm change is used to show there is a change in the mood of the singer.
6. Symbolism –
“…when we have paid our debt. Who did we borrow from?”
This is a symbol because he isn’t really talking about paying a debt. He is using the idea of a “debt” and using it to mean giving back for a life we have been given.

7. C – Connotation (F – Figurative Language)
7. Allusion –
“I wanna have pride like my mother has and not like the kind in the Bible that turns you bad…”
This is an allusion because it assumes you know that in the Bible, pride is considered a serious sin that will lead to your downfall.
8. Imagery –
“I wanna grow old without the pain, give my body back to the earth and not complain.”
Using the phrase “give my body back to the earth” helps to visualize a burial.

8. A – Attitude The attitude, or tone, of this song is candid.
It is truthful, straightforward, and honest.
You can see that the song is candid in lyrics such as, “I wanna have friends, that I can trust, that love me for the man I’ve become not the man I was.”
These lyrics show the singer’s honest thoughts.

9. S – Shift
The shift in this song is when the lyrics begin, “Okay part two now clear the house…”
This is a clear shift in the song because it goes from a candid and pensive tone to a more assertive tone when the singer shouts, “Get out!”
There is also a clear shift here because the rhythm of the song increases.
The song shifts back to the original tone when the rhythm slows back down and starts with the chorus again.

10. T – Title My prediction based on the title was half-way correct.
I predicted that it would be about finding a space that was perfect for you. However, the song also includes a metaphorical, emotional, or mental space, not just a physical space.

11. T – Theme
Remaining true to yourself will allow you to find peace and pride in who you are.
This theme is displayed in the following lyrics:
“I wanna have friends that I can trust, that love me for the man I’ve become not the man I was”
“I wanna have friends that will let me be all alone when being alone is all that I need”
“I wanna have pride like my mother has…”