Comparison Paper

Abstract

Deception is the common theme between both of these songs. “Brillant Disguise” is deceit through a man and woman who have commited to each other and there is fear the woman is hiding something from him, so he doubts himself. “When You Don’t See Me” is deceit through a casual relationship where the woman is left to think she is in a meaning relationship, but the man is deceiving her because he does not have the same feelings for her.

Comparison Paper

Deception is the common factor between the songs “Brillant Disguise” and “When You Don’t See Me”. They both reveal deceit in a relationship setting. “Brilliant Disguise” is about a married couple and he loves her but feels she has deceived him and “When You Don’t See Me” appears to be more resentful towards a woman, which may be his girlfriend or some kind of casual relationship that he is not commited to.

In “Brilliant Disguise” the listener is lead to believe he is speaking of his wife because of the lyrics “We stood at the alter the gypsy swore our future was right” (Springteen, 1987) and also “Tonight our bed is cold” (Springteen, 1987). They share a bed together and now he feels she may not be the same woman as the day they were at the alter. Its clear that they have commited their love for each other through marriage but their relationship has changed and grown cold through these two lyrics of the song.

Deception is shown in a few different ways throughout “Brilliant Disguise”. First he yearns to read her mind to see what she is feeling. He feels she is wearing a mask and most likely feels different about him now, “I heard somebody call your name from underneath are willow, I saw something tucked in shame underneath your pillow” (Springteen, 1987). The husband feels she is hiding something while he has tried so hard to keep her happy. He has started to doubt himself when he says “ What is a woman like you doing with me” (Springteen, 1987) and “I want to know if its you I don’t trust...