READING BOB MARLEY’S I SHOT THE SHERIFF LYRIC:A SEMIOTICS OF POETRY ANALYSIS

The characteristic of poetry and lyric is its unity. Therefore, each element of poetry that refers to “other things” will be constant. The lyric’s significance can be discovered through the interrelation of its structure. This research uses Bob Marley’s I Shot The Sheriff lyric as the object. The structure of lyrics is main unit to find the significance, and the significance of the lyrics should be read intertextually. This research uses objective approach by applying Semiotics of Poetry theory by Michael Riffaterre. To collect the data this research uses close reading technique. By using heuristic and hermeneutic reading, this research shows the significance of Bob Marley’s I Shot The Sheriff lyrics. The meaning of lyric comes from matrix. This research finds (1) the fighting of narrator to government control and (2) that the hypogram of I Shot The Sheriff lyrics is the main song of Burnin’ Album, burnin’ and Lotin’ lyrics.