Alliteration

Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of several words in close succession. There are two types of alliteration. Consonance is characterized by the repetition of the same consonant two or more times in succession. Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds.

Tiptoe Through the Tulips By: Tiny Tim

Tiptoe through the window
By the window, that is where I'll be
Come tiptoe through the tulips with me

Oh, tiptoe from the garden
By the garden of the willow tree
And tiptoe through the tulips with me

Knee deep in flowers we'll stray
We'll keep the showers away
And if I kiss you in the garden, in the moonlight
Will you pardon me?
And tiptoe through the tulips with me.

Tiptoe Through the Tulips shows many examples of consonance. It says, "tiptoe through the tulips" multiple times throughout the song which uses the consonant "t" at the beginning of three successive words. Also, in the first verse the consonant "w" is repeated.

Tim, Tiny. Lyrics. “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” God Bless Tiny Tim. Reprise. 1968. http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/t/timtiny10908/tiptoethroughthetulips347706.html. Web. 7 February 2010.

Rocky Raccoon By: The Beatles

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
A Gideon checked out and he left it no doubt
To help with good Rocky's revival.

Rocky Raccoon shows many examples of assonance and consonance. First of all, the phrase "rocky raccoon" is an example of alliteration. This is used numerous times throughout the song. Also, the phrases, "grinning a grin," "collapsed in the corner," and "Rocky's revival," show examples of consonance. As for assonance, the phrase,"booked himself a room in the local saloon," is an example of successive vowels in the words room and saloon.

McCartney, Paul. Lyrics. “Rocky Raccoon.” The Beatles. Apple. 1968. http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Rocky-Raccoon-lyrics-The-Beatles/96E6311ECBFA360048256BC2002114C2. Web. 7 February 2010

Purple People Eater by: Sheb Wooley

Well I saw the thing comin' out of the sky
It had the one long horn, one big eye
I commenced to shakin' and I said "ooh-eee"
It looks like a purple eater to me

It was a one-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater
(One-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater)
A one-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater
Sure looks strange to me (One eye?)

Well he came down to earth and he lit in a tree
I said Mr. Purple People Eater, don't eat me
I heard him say in a voice so gruff
I wouldn't eat you cuz you're so tough

It was a one-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater
One-eyed, one-horned flyin' purple people eater
One-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater
Sure looks strange to me (One horn?)

I said Mr. Purple People Eater, what's your line
He said it's eatin' purple people and it sure is fine
But that's not the reason that I came to land
I wanna get a job in a rock and roll band

Well bless my soul, rock and roll, flyin' purple people eater
Pigeon-toed, undergrowed, flyin' purple people eater
(We wear short shorts)
Flyin' purple people eater
Sure looks strange to me

And then he swung from the tree and he lit on the ground
He started to rock, really rockin' around
It was a crazy ditty with a swingin' tune
Sing a boop boop aboopa lopa lum bam boom

Well bless my soul, rock and roll, flyin' purple people eater
Pigeon-toed, undergrowed, flyin' purple people eater
I like short shorts
Flyin' little people eater
Sure looks strange to me (Purple People?)

And then he went on his way, and then what do ya know
I saw him last night on a TV show
He was blowing it out, a'really knockin' em dead
Playin' rock and roll music through the horn in his head

This song shows a lot of examples of consonance. In the term, "purple people eater," consonance is displayed. A lot of other repetition is also displayed throughout this song.

Wooley, Sheb. Lyrics. “Purple People Eater.” Dr. Demento’s 20^th Anniversary Collection. WEaA/Atlantic/Rhino. 1991. http://digitaldreamdoor.nutsie.com/pages/lyrics2/nov_purplpe.html. Web. 7 February 2010.