On the surface, the song by this young “artist,” if we can even call him that, may seem like simply another contribution to the inanities of today’s music and the return of the “boy band” genre; however, through poetic analysis I was able to find many disturbing undertones to this deceptively innocent tune that fills the heads of so many youth as it plays perpetually over the radio.
The simple narrative of the song follows the efforts of a young fellow as he attempts to woo a young lady with promises of his virtue and honesty, and at one point, the prospect of a melted cheese product. According to the title, his eventual goal is to become her “boyfriend” through these offerings.
The lyrics of the first verse are as follows:
“If I was your boyfriend, I’d never let you go
I can take you places you ain’t never been before
Baby take a chance or you’ll never ever know
I got money in my hands that I’d really like to blow
Swag swag swag, on you
Chillin’ by the fire while we eatin’ fondue
I don’t know about me but I know about you
So say hello to falsetto in three two swag.”
However, by closer analysis, we see the beginning of a chronicle written by a very disturbed youth. The use of the conditional “if” throughout implies that he will only be kind to her if she bends to his will — not an auspicious beginning. He also promises to take her places “you ain’t never been before.” Obviously this blatant affront to the rules of basic grammar and sentence structure is being used as a tool to lower his threat level to his mate: who can be seen in a serious light if he lacks the ability to form the most basic of statements? Alas, this serves as a lure to “take her places she ain’t never been.” Most likely, the dark silence of a forest where he may delve deeper into his diabolical plan. However, the next lines that include the words “Swag swag swag, on you” cause much confusion. The dictionary definition of the term “swag” is as follows: “a suspended wreath, garland, drapery or the like, fastened up at or near each end and hanging down in the middle; festoon.” Another definition is to “move heavily or unsteadily from side to side.” I surmise that he intends to throw foliage upon her in the form of an attack.
The chorus of this so-called song offers no redeeming qualities to his character.
“If I was your boyfriend, never let you go
Keep you on my arm girl, you’d never be alone
I can be a gentleman, anything you want
If I was your boyfriend I’d never let you go…”
As of now our disturbed youth is threatening this young lady, in the middle of the forest, to be with him forever, never out of his sight. Throughout the song he becomes more and more controlling. One can almost picture the desperation of the poor young lass! The second verse becomes nearly incomprehensible:
“Tell me what you like yeah tell me what you don’t
I could be your Buzz Lightyear fly across the globe
I don’t never wanna fight yeah, you already know
Imma make you shine bright like you’re laying in the snow
Burr
Girlfriend, girlfriend, you could be my girlfriend
You could be my girlfriend until the upper world ends
Make you dance do a spin and a twirl and
Voice goin’ crazy on this hook like a whirlwind
Swaggie.”
It’s clear that our friend Mr. Bieber is out of his right mind because his heightened sexual state has caused a certain amount of heat that is too much for his Canadian structure to handle. The problem of his Canadian-hood is evident again in the lines “Imma make you shine bright like you’re laying in the snow….Burr.” There are not many who are familiar with the sight of someone lying in the snow, dying of hypothermia; however, Mr. Bieber’s Canadian background has evidently given him the insight to know that they emit a certain glow. The last few lines give the distinct feeling of losing control with his “voice goin’ crazy on this hook like a whirlwind.” As he does this, an echo from the beginning of the song returns with a form of “swag.” It is likely that he has proceeded in draping her in foliage for some unknown, disturbing Canadian ritual.
This song is only one of the many examples of how close reading can forever change the meaning of a piece of art. Now the innocence of juvenile girls dancing and declaring their undying love to the haunting lyrics that are the result of this disturbed young man’s mental fantasy seems misplaced and horrific. This can only be another sad example of the pressures of fame causing mental instability in a young star.
