The theme of Loss in 80’s Hair Metal covers a wide variety of songs. One song above all others show this theme, Don’t know what you got (Til it’s gone) by Cinderella. This song demonstrates the usage of two poetic devices, personification and imagery. The song also demonstrates the extent of the theme of loss. Examples of the poetic devices and themes are shown throughout the song.
The first example of personification and loss is in the second verse with the lyrics, “I can't clear my heart of your love it falls like rain/Ain't the same/I hear you calling far
Away/Tearing through my soul I just can't take another day” This shows personification because a heart cannot ‘fall like rain’ nor can a voice tear through a soul. The theme of loss is shown in these lyrics also. The songwriter is taking the role of someone who has had their heart broken by the person they love, and they are not over them yet. “I can’t clear my heart of your love it falls like rain” shows that he is still in love with this person.
Another example of personification and loss in the song is in the third verse with the lyrics, “Do you wanna see me beggin' baby/Can't you give me just one more day/Can't you see my heart's been draggin' lately”. The personification is shown with the line, ‘Can’t you see my heart’s been draggin’ lately”. This gives the heart a human quality, dragging. An example of loss in these lyrics is ‘Do you wanna see me beggin’ baby/Can’t you just give me one more day’. The songwriter feels lost without this person, he explains how he would beg to have her back for just one more day, perhaps to mend the wounds that caused the heart break in the first place.
Throughout the song, the theme of loss and the poetic device of personification are shown. The examples of these two devices are found in the second and third verse of the song. This song is an example of how the theme of loss was a large part of music in the 80’s Hair Metal.
Don't Know What You Got (Til It's Gone) by Cinderella
I can't tell ya baby what went wrong
I can't make you feel what you felt so long ago
I'll let it show
I can't give you back what's been hurt
Heartaches come and go and all that's left are the words
I can't let go
If we take some time to think it over baby
Take some time, let me know
If you really want to go
Don't know what you got till it's gone
Don't know what it is I did so wrong
Now I know what I got
It's just this song
And it ain't easy to get back
Takes so long
I can't feel the things that cause you pain
I can't clear my heart of your love it falls like rain
Ain't the same
I hear you calling far away
Tearing through my soul I just can't take another day
Who's to blame
If we take some time to think it over baby
Take some time let me know
If you really wanna go
Don't know what you got till it's gone
Don't know what it is I did so wrong
Now I know what I got
It's just this song
And it ain't easy to get back
Takes so long
Do you wanna see me beggin' baby
Can't you give me just one more day
Can't you see my heart's been draggin' lately
I've been lookin' for the words to say
Don't know what you got till it's gone
Don't know what it is I did so wrong
Now I know what I got
It's just this song
And it ain't easy to get back
Takes so long
Don't know what you got till it's gone no
Don't know what it is I did so wrong
Now I know what I got
It's just this song
And it ain't easy to get back
Takes so long
