Jesse Leach's Song Alone I Stand

Songwriter, Jesse Leach, in his song, Alone I Stand, dismisses society. Jesse’s purpose is to idealize rejection of society. He adapts a firm tone in order to portray the downfalls of society in everyone conformed to society’s lies. The song begins setting the mood of the scene using the words “great tribulation” to emphasize the current struggles of everyone. The use of “us” in the first line implies unity between the author and his audience. He emphasizes time as a universal term to suggest “deception, conflict, and unrest” are everywhere in the world. The next lines are amplified beginning with “I will” to state an order that’s being fulfilled. His use of anaphora relates the current situation in society to his mindset to explain his future

Juxtaposition compares “the beginning of days” to “the last and final end.” The comparison of the happiest days to the presumably feared and dreadful days trivializes if there’s a difference in the mind. Imagery is created through the author’s diction in “uncertainty bleeds from within.” Although people don’t physically bleed from uncertainty, the image is processed in the audience’s mind to support how worries can cause anxiety which creates physical pain. The reference to “open wounds” supports how pain isn’t always visible while existing. While the wounds stitched with precision creates a satisfying and freeing feeling, it also trivializes if the wound is really fixed. His diction changes in the next line beginning with the word “they” referring to society. “They call us sons and daughters” clarifies how society categorizes us into thoughtful and important roles as if to never hurt or betray us. The tone shifts through the metaphor “only sheep led to slaughter.” Our role changes

“So many times, so many lies” incorporates struggles the audience can relate to. Nonconformity is employed in “I am disconnected from a system I’ve rejected.” This clarifies the mindset of the author regarding society and the system earth has shaped into our heads. “No allegiance” and “defiant I withstand” testifies the need to get away from society. In the next stanza, “you” implies the audience, who are confined in society’s standards”, are being rejected by the author. The author idealizes nonconformity and sustains his position in “alone I stand” utilizing the standard of friends and promoting beliefs over standards. “Rank, file, and number” allows for no differentiation between files in a cabinet and humans with feelings and minds. The metaphor, “we are gears in the machine”, incorporates the idea of our “importance” while implying we are fixable and if not we are replaceable. The perfection of society is shown but the backbone and the hard work is “unseen to the eye” because it’s not society’s standards to show the imperfections and