"Goliath"

 

 

 

One of my favorite artists right now is Dawn Richard. I have been a fan of her music since she was in the group Danity Kane. My respect for her grew once I purchased her album “Golden Heart” earlier this year, and I found myself obsessed with the album for about six months. One of my favorite tracks on the album is entitled “Goliath”. It deals with the struggle that David deals with before during, and the triumph over Goliath. It took me a while to figure out what allusion I was going to do, but after a listen to this song a couple days ago I knew this would be perfect for me. The song title and lyrics reference the story of David vs. Goliath, that story can be found in 1 Samuel chapter 17.

 

Growing up in a spiritual background I obviously knew about the account of David and goliath, but I never would have thought a song would have indirect reference to the event that occurred in the Old Testament.  To analyze this song I had to listen to the entire album to grasp what Ms. Richard was conveying through music. The whole album talks about female warrior, who is falling in love, and trying to prevail against al the odds that are in this world. The track “goliath” is the first fight that she is faced with, and she has to deal with all the doubts, fear, and eventual triumph over her “Goliath.  The lines in the song and lyrics that grab my attention the most are :

1.       But I can can can
With this rock in my hand hand hand hand
(I caaaaan)
But I can can can
Fight until the end end end

 

2.       Each swing
I counter
I look to my father
I ask him for favor
To take down this monster
All for the honor
It gave me the power
To do like no other
To say I have conquered

 

 

These lines are very much an indirect reference to the verse 45-50 in chapter 17 which states : “ David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶ This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. ⁴⁷ All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

⁴⁸ As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. ⁴⁹ Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.

⁵⁰ So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.”

 jjjj