Rocky Raccoon

The White Album is a classic. The Beatles are a phenomenal band with an extraordinary reputation. Most of their songs are written in lyrical form, but one song always stuck out as being kind of an "outcast", was the narrative Rocky Raccoon. The song has a variety of poetic devices used such as repetition, irony, paradox, and synecdoche. Rocky Raccoon is a ballad about a heart-broken fella who's "woman ran off with another guy". This "hit young rocky in the eye;" referring to the emotional impact this had on poor Rocky, this as an example of a synecdoche. There is also a repetition in reference to "Gideon's bible"; the book seems to have a demeaning affect on Rocky, as he finds it when he "checks into his room" before he's about to "shoot off the legs of his rival", and after "he falls back in his room," unable to overcome "Dan." Although there is debate if Gideon's bible is symbolism to the infamous John Lennon statement, "The Beatles are more popular than Jesus Christ." Never the less, Rocky being crippled from his attempts in overcoming his rival, a "doctor [comes] in stinking of gin;" this is an example of paradox and irony because it's quite contradicting to have an inebriated doctor making decisions on his health. The song has many more poetic devices rooted into it, and now Rocky's failed attempts swell and protrude similar to the song itself in the White Album. Tomorrow may rain poor Rocky, so you best be following the sun.

Now somewhere in the black mining hills of Dakota
There lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoon
And one day his woman ran off with another guy
Hit young Rocky in the eye Rocky didn't like that
He said I'm gonna get that boy
So one day he walked into town
Booked himself a room in the local saloon.

Rocky Raccoon checked into his room
Only to find Gideon's bible
Rocky had come equipped with a gun
To shoot off the legs of his rival
His rival it seems had broken his dreams
By stealing the girl of his fancy.
Her name was Magil and she called herself Lil
But everyone knew her as Nancy.
Now she and her man who called himself Dan
Were in the next room at the hoedown
Rocky burst in and grinning a grin
He said Danny boy this is a showdown
But Daniel was hot-he drew first and shot
And Rocky collapsed in the corner.

The doctor came in stinking of gin
And proceeded to lie on the table
He said Rocky you met your match
And Rocky said, Doc it's only a scratch
And I'll be better I'll be better doc as soon as I am able.

Now Rocky Raccoon he fell back in his room
Only to find Gideon's bible
Gideon checked out and he left it no doubt
To help with good Rocky's revival.