Analysis of the Meaning of Love in Ed Sheeran’s Song “Perfect” Based on the Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) Approach

Abstract

In this study, it aims to explore the meaning of love in Ed Sheeran's song "Perfect" through the lens of the most recent version of the Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) approach. This view of language (the construction of meaning by others in a social system) has support in several recent studies in popular music and media (Zhang & Zhang, 2023; Alshehri, 2024). The analysis examined the three meta functions of language (ideational, interpersonal, and textual) to show how linguistic means may convey or construct the experience of romantic love. The findings in our analysis suggest "Perfect," represents a balance of any representation of personal experience (ideational), intimacy in relationships (interpersonal), and thematic cohesion (textual). In conclusion, it should be noted that these analyses reinforce an early modern SFL position that language in popular text serves as a means to construct social emotions and represents cultural values.