Regret Meaning in Music Lyrics “Ma” by Rich Brian the Study of Semiotic

Abstract

Music serves as a medium for conveying complex meanings, including expressions of regret. Although Rich Brian’s lyrics have been extensively studied in various contexts relating to Asian and American cultural identities, no research has specifically analysed the semiotic construction of regret in his song ‘Ma’, which is his most personal work to date. This study aims to fill this gap by employing Roland Barthes’s semiotic theory, which breaks down the sign into three levels: denotation, connotation and myth. Using a qualitative-descriptive approach, the data comprising the song’s lyrics is analysed in depth to uncover hidden layers of meaning. The findings of the research indicate that: On a denotative level, the lyrics depict a child who regrets being far from their family; on a connotative level, the choice of words evokes a sense of guilt that is expressed unspoken; while on a mythical level, this song challenges the cultural narrative that love for one’s family must be sacrificed for the sake of work. These findings confirm that the remorse expressed in the song “Ma” is not merely an expression of personal emotion, but rather a way for an individual to vent their feelings not through words, but through silence and actions as a sign of regret.