Halo by Beyonce Song Analysis Essay

Sometimes we cannot control who we love and who we decide to fall for. We simply must have faith that those we fall for don't leave us with emotional scars. Beyoncé Knowles once said, “I'm a human being and I fall in love- and sometimes I don’t have control of every situation”. Perhaps this is what Beyoncé was thinking when writing the song “Halo”, for this song was said to be composed with her husband in mind. “Halo” is a symbolic love song intricately constructed by literary devices, which helps contribute to significant development between themes. More specifically, Beyoncé uses a series of poetic devices to help develop the themes of breaking down emotional barriers as well as the excitement of new relationships. With elements such symbolism, metaphors, and even personification, “Halo” is transformed into a beautifully written, symbolic love story.

The song “Halo”  is enriched with many literary devices that help introduce important themes. The first theme developed pertains to trust and breaking down emotional barriers. One of the most notable literary devices, especially because it is the first literary device utilized in the song, is a metaphor. Beyoncé starts the song off with the beautifully composed lyrics of “remember those walls I built, well baby they’re tumbling down” (Beyoncé, Lines 1 and 2). The walls in this line are a metaphor because Beyoncé is not talking about physical walls, but instead emotional walls that she constructed to conceal her past emotional scars. The clever use of this metaphor introduces the idea of heartbreak in a past relationship, as well as Beyoncé feeling the need to protect herself emotionally. Beyoncé then utilizes the effective literary device of personification to emphasize the theme of breaking down these emotional ‘walls’. She says, “they didn't even put up a fight- they didn't even make a sound” (Beyoncé, Lines 2 and 3). This is a great example of personification because physical walls obviously cannot fight or make noise. The use of personification hints to the idea that someone found a way to easily deconstruct the emotional barriers that she had built up. These literary devices make the theme of deconstructing emotional barriers very significant. She is learning to let her guard down, and by doing so, she is learning how to love and trust again.

Like many songs, themes can develop as lyrics progress. Another major theme in the song “Halo” is the excitement of new relationships. When emotional barriers are deconstructed, the openness and possibility of new relationships becomes exciting. This theme develops substantially throughout the song, with the help of literary devices such as metaphors, symbolism, allusions, and similes. One notable example of a literary device that helps introduce this theme lies in the lyrics “Everywhere I’m looking now, I'm surrounded by your embrace, baby I can see your halo, you know you’re my saving grace” (Beyoncé, Lines 13 through 16). By alluding to the bible as well as comparing Beyoncé’s partner to an angel, the ‘halo’ becomes very symbolic. It begins to represent and symbolize the new opportunity and light that her love brings her. She is emphasizing the fact that her love saved her, and granted her an opportunity to find love after being heartbroken. Beyoncé also uses similes in her song to portray the excitement of new relationships. This is exemplified when she sings “hit me like a ray of sun, burning through my darkest nights” (Beyoncé, Lines 25 and 26). Beyoncé is comparing the love that she feels to a ray of sunlight that helps her through her darkest hours. This new opportunity of relationship and love brought light back into her life after feeling heartbroken. Arguably, without these literary devices, Beyoncé would not have been able to develop such symbolic and relatable themes in the song.

Heartbreak is a natural part of life, and we must hope that heartbreak will eventually be accompanied by new opportunities and love. These are the themes that Beyoncé successfully developed with the help of devices such as metaphors, personification, similes, and the use of symbolism. “Halo” is a song with a built-in extended metaphor about a heartbroken girl learning to love again. The use of these literary devices helps facilitate the progression of the theme of breaking down emotional barriers in the beginning of the song, to the excitement of new relationships by the end of the song. Without the symbolism of the Halo, for example, we would not as clearly understand the magnitude as to which Beyoncé’s partner had on her life. “Halo” is not only lyrically ingenious, but it is a deeply meaningful and beautiful song that is relatable to heartbroken souls looking for another chance at love.