Piece by Piece by Kelly Clarkson

1. Piece by Piece by Kelly
Clarkson Tonal Analysis
Molly Cheng

2. Initial Questions
What is the tone or overall feeling of the song? Is it
supported by the music as well as the lyrics?
Is the middle section (repetition of “piece by piece”) a
bridge or a post chorus?
Who is the intended reader?

3. Tonic
The tonic is Db
Emergent Tonic

4. Tonality - Verse 1
vi IV I
And all I remember is your back
vi IV I
Walking towards the airport leaving us all in your past
V vi IV
I traveled fifteen hundred miles to see you
V vi
Begged you to want me
IV
But you didn’t want to

5. Tonality - Chorus
I
But piece by piece he collected me
V
Up off the ground where you abandon things
vi IV
And piece by piece he filled the holes that you burned in me
At six years old and you know
I
He never walks away
He never asks for money
V
He takes care of me
He loves me
vi
Piece by piece
He restored my faith
IV
That a man can be kind
I
And a father could stay

6. Tonality - Verse 2
vi IV I
And all of your words fall flat
vi IV I
I made something of myself and now you wanna come back
V vi
But your love it isn’t free
IV
It has to be earned
V vi
Back then I didn’t have anything you needed
IV
So I was worthless

7. Tonality - Bridge/Outro
Bridge
I
Piece by piece
V
Piece by piece
vi
Piece by piece
IV
Piece by piece
I V
Piece by piece
vi IV
Piece by piece
Outro
I
Piece by piece
V
Piece by piece
vi IV I
Piece by piece

8. Implied Author
Everyone can rise from past pain
Values family and honesty
Thinks everyone should feel like they’re important and
loved

9. Narrator
Status – Narrator is telling her personal story
Identity – Honest and sincere
Stance – No father should leave their child
Voice – Personal

10. Narratee
Address – Private
Communication – Direct
Expression – Oppositional

11. Implied Reader
Proximity - Close proximity
Sincerity – Sincere, but we only hear one
side of the story
Temporality – Dissonant

12. Review of Questions
What is the tone or overall feeling of the song? Is it
supported by the music as well as the lyrics?
Is the middle section (repetition of “piece by piece”) a
bridge or a post chorus?
Who is the intended reader?