Interpreting the Metaphors and Meaning in Queen’s Song Another One Bites the Dust

Abstract

Background: Metaphor is widely used in song lyrics to express complex meanings, emotions, and experiences through familiar figurative images. Objective: This study analyzes the metaphors, meanings, and metaphorical functions in Queen’s song “Another One Bites the Dust,” including the phrase “another one bites the dust” as a euphemism for death in relation to the 2018 Santa Fe High School shooting. Method: Using a descriptive qualitative approach, this study applies semantic analysis and Jakobson’s language-function framework to identify, interpret, and classify metaphorical expressions in the lyrics. Results: The study identifies 15 metaphorical expressions classified into four functions: poetic, connotative, referential, and emotive. The poetic function is dominant, especially in metaphors related to death, defeat, threat, and violence, while the central phrase “another one bites the dust” becomes significant because it is used both in the song’s narrative and reportedly in the Santa Fe shooting context to mark death. Conclusion: The study shows that the song’s cultural resonance lies not only in its musical popularity but also in its layered metaphors, which allow meanings of emotional defeat, violence, and death to circulate across different contexts.