So I took the week 3 challenge and wrote one about words that have multiple (opposite meanings). Contronyms are also called Auto-antonyms, but that didn't sound as good in song.
I always enjoyed cheesy educational songs like "Why Does the Sun Shine," (by TMBG) or "Crazy ABCs" (by BNL), and thought I'd try something in that vein. I'm certainly not as funny as they are, and it kinda feels awkward bantering back and forth with myself. I think it would work better if I had someone else talking with me.
Also, if you're an English teacher, I'm sorry for saying that contronyms don't matter.
Here are the contronyms and their definitions that I used in the song:
Dust: To sprinkle fine particicles OR to clean them up
Left: To leave (remove one's self) OR to remain behind
Clip: To separate (cut out) OR to bind together
Sanction: To give official permission / approval OR to punish by imposing a penalty
Trim: To add (decoration) OR to remove (cut off pieces)
Fast: Moving quickly OR not moving at all
Fix: A puzzle or problem OR a solution
Bound: To be restrained from movement OR to move toward a destination
Contronyms, contronyms,
both homonyms and antonyms,
facing off against each other
with the same name
SPOKEN:
Contra means against, opposite, or contrasting.
And Nym comes from the Greek word for Name!
So a contronym is a word with two different meanings,
where one is opposite of the other.
Just take a look at this example!
Dust the cake with sugar now
the powdered kind is best
then dust the room to clean it up
SPOKEN:
Okay sure, that's one example, but do you have any more?
I left the house in such a rush
I thought I would be fine
Noticed when I got to work
my phone was left behind
Clip it from the newspaper,
cut all the pieces free.
Then clip them all together now,
so you don't lose a thing.
SPOKEN:
Newspapers, really?
Hey, it works.
I gave sanction to the plan,
I'll act accordingly.
But if they don't like what I do,
they'll quickly sanction me.
Every year at Christmas time,
we decorate with glee.
We add the trim and tinsel, then
trim branches off the tree.
Stand fast, please, don't move a bit.
Stay right where you are.
Traffic's moving way to fast,
don't get hit by a car.
SPOKEN:
Good advice, but now you're just showing off.
Things are bad, I'm in a fix,
yes this is quite a plight.
I need some help to mend things now,
and fix it so its right.
The man in cuffs bound quite tight,
he can't move an inch.
He’s on a bus with criminals,
bound for the State pen...itentiary.
SPOKEN:
That's it, I'm leaving.
Contronyms, contronyms,
both homonyms and antonyms,
facing off against each other
with the same name
@frank Feb 2022
@headfirstonly - I thought about using cleave, but I've never actually heard anyone use it in the non-separating sense, so it was harder for me to come up with a good verse about it. There were a few attempts that were tossed.
@headfirstonly Feb 2022
I'm a huge fan of educational songs too (and a huge They Might Be Giants fan in general) so I'm just sitting here, listening and smiling. And the grammar nerd part of my brain is shouting "what about cleave?"
Very nicely done.
@ltunes Feb 2022
This is so great. I absolutely love your song and the talk back parts. Really well done!