I Wanna Be Yours (Edexcel GCSE English Literature)

Each GCSE poetry anthology contains 15 poems, and in your exam question you will be given one poem – printed in full – and asked to compare this printed poem to another. The exam is closed-book, which means you will not have access to the second poem. This does not mean you need to remember every line from memory, but you do need to understand and remember key aspects of the poem. Understanding four things will enable you to produce a top-grade response:

• The meaning of the poem
• The ideas and messages of the poet 
• How the poet conveys these ideas through their methods
• How these ideas compare and contrast with the ideas of other poets in the anthology

Below is a guide to John Cooper Clarke’s poem 'i wanna be yours', from the Relationships anthology. It includes:

• Overview: a breakdown of the poem, including its possible meanings and interpretations
• Writer’s methods: an exploration of the poet’s techniques and methods
• Context: an exploration of the context of the poem, relevant to its themes
• What to compare it to: ideas about which poems to compare it to in the exam

In order to answer an essay question on any poem it is vital that you understand what it is about. This section includes:

• The poem in a nutshell
• A “translation” of the poem, section-by-section
• A commentary of each of these sections, outlining John Cooper Clarke’s intention and message

'i wanna be yours' in a nutshell

'i wanna be yours', written by English poet John Cooper Clarke, subverts traditional ideas of romantic relationships with simple imagery that describes love unconventionally. Incongruously, the poem uses casual language to explore intense love. 

'i wanna be yours' breakdown

Lines 1–2

“let me be your vacuum cleaner

breathing in your dust”

Translation

• The poem begins addressing an implied listener 
• The speaker clearly gives their intention, that they want to “breathe” in the other person

Cooper Clarke's intention

• Cooper Clarke sets the tone of the unconventional romantic poem with non-standard grammar, breaking traditional conventions 
• The odd metaphor implies the speaker’s longing for an even closer relationship
• The poet uses a vacuum cleaner’s ambiguous connotations to imply ideas about love:
• It could be perceived as invasive, disruptive, perhaps even toxic

Lines 3–6

“let me be your Ford Cortina

i will never rust

if you like your coffee hot

let me be your coffee pot”

Translation

• The speaker wants to be their car that will never “rust”, suggesting a long-lasting love
• The speaker could perhaps appear a little flustered mentioning coffee twice, but this intensifies the image and implies the speaker will do anything to please their lover 

Cooper Clarke's intention

• Cooper Clarke uses metaphorical imagery that defies typical romantic symbolism
• The speaker’s down-to-earth language makes their message seem more genuine
• Nevertheless, the bizarre images hide the deeper implications of an obsessive love

Lines 7–8

“you call the shots

i wanna be yours”

Translation

• The speaker says their partner is in charge and no matter what they ask it will be done

Cooper Clarke's intention

• Cooper Clarke shows a love that is entire:
• The speaker’s submission to their partner’s control is offered willingly
• The colloquial phrase “you call the shots” contributes to a casual tone:
• This may lighten the poem’s intense declaration of love
• However, Cooper Clarke draws attention to it with short, emphatic lines

Line 9–14

“let me be your raincoat

for those frequent rainy days

let me be your dreamboat

when you want to sail away

let me be your teddy bear

take me with you anywhere” 

Translation

• The speaker wants to protect their partner on bad days, like a “raincoat” 
• In addition, they want to be their “dreamboat”:
• This is a pun as it plays on two ideas: a boat and the colloquial meaning of an attractive lover
• The phrase “let me be your teddy bear” refers to a romantic song by Elvis Presley in which he sings the same line

Cooper Clarke's intention

• These lines draw further comparisons that reinforce the speaker’s longing
• Cooper Clarke presents a lover’s desire to be their partner’s support and comfort 
• These lines allude to a romantic relationship that is steadfast and dependable 

Lines 15–16

“i don’t care

i wanna be yours”

Translation

• The speaker breaks from their metaphorical list to clarify their message
• Whatever their partner wants they will do it if it means they can be together 

Cooper Clarke's intention

• The rhythm is disrupted again to show the speaker’s passionate and all-consuming love
• This is illustrated, too, with the rhyming of “anywhere” (in the previous line) and “care”

Lines 17–20

“let me be your electric meter

i will not run out

let me be the electric heater

you’ll get cold without”

Translation

• The speaker returns to offering themselves to the relationship 
• The reference to an “electric meter” and “heater” implies the speaker wants to be their source of warmth  
• They add that they will never stop offering warmth and energy as they will “not run out”

Cooper Clarke's intention

• Cooper Clarke uses mundane household images that connote to vital parts of daily life
• Perhaps this implies the speaker wants their partner to depend upon them like electricity:
• The line “you’ll get cold without” does indicate a relationship that is possessive

Lines 21–23

“let me be your setting lotion

hold your hair

with deep devotion”

Translation

• The speaker says they want to be their partner’s “setting lotion” (for styling hair)
• These lines mean the speaker will help their lover stay “firm” with their strong commitment

Cooper Clarke's intention

• Cooper Clarke alludes to the strength of commitment the speaker can offer
• This presents romantic relationships as a source of stability

Lines 24–27

“deep as the deep

atlantic ocean

that’s how deep is my emotion

deep deep deep deep de deep deep”

Translation

• These lines repeat the word “deep” to emphasise the speaker’s message 
• The language breaks down and the speaker defaults to romantic traditions
• This is reinforced with the repetition of the alliterative and auditory “de deep deep” 

Cooper Clarke's intention

• Cooper Clarke conveys a speaker losing control of their emotions:
• Nevertheless, the oral nature of the poem contributes to the idea that the poem is a tribute to the idea of love
• Here, the speaker uses traditional romantic imagery of the deep ocean, to connote, arguably, to the way passion has increased over the course of the monologue

Lines 28–29

“i don’t wanna be hers

i wanna be yours”

Translation

• The last line is ambiguous and can be interpreted in different ways:
• One argument could be that the possessive pronoun “hers” suggests the existence of another girl (perhaps one who has interfered in the relationship)
• Alternatively, it could imply that no other girl is good enough

Cooper Clarke's intention

• Cooper Clarke’s poem ends suddenly with reference to a third person: 
• This may indicate, ironically, that the passionate poem is an argument to prove their commitment to the listener instead of a third party
• It could also end the poem by reinforcing the idea of entire commitment and monogamy 

Although this section is organised into three separate sections – form, structure and language – it is always best to move from what the poet is presenting (the techniques they use; the overall form of the poem; what comes at the beginning, middle and end of a poem) to how and why they have made the choices they have. 

Focusing on the poet’s overarching ideas, rather than individual poetic techniques, will gain you far more marks. Crucially, in the below sections, all analysis is arranged by theme, and includes Cooper Clarke’s intentions behind his choices in terms of:

• Form
• Structure
• Language

Form

The form of 'i wanna be yours' is an unconventional approach and defies traditional presentations of romantic relationships. Simultaneously, Cooper Clarke’s poem is a presentation of intense, obsessive love.   

Theme	Evidence	Poet’s intention
Intimate   relationships	The first-person monologue addresses a listener: “i wanna be yours”: The poem speaks in a personal and relaxed way This may signify a personal relationship	Cooper Clarke creates an intimate presentation of a romantic relationship
	However, the poem refers to a third person with a possessive pronoun “hers”	While the poem explores a devoted relationship, the mention of other women is a stark reminder of the external world: This alludes to an exclusive and committed relationship
	The rambling nature of the speaker’s voice takes on the form of an internal monologue	By using lowercase, non-standard grammar, the poet conveys a sense of realism, despite the intensely repetitive form
	Cooper Clarke’s poem is a personal and passionate appeal to a lover

Structure

The poem’s structure creates a lyrical yet urgent monologue to present a speaker’s dedication to love, and their commitment to their romantic relationship. 

Theme	Evidence	Poet’s intention
Complex love	John Cooper Clarke sets much of his poetry to music: A generally consistent rhyme scheme of ababccc gives the poem a lyrical quality  Using internal rhyme adds a sense of child-like innocence: “coffee pot” and “coffee hot”	While the poem’s structure gives the poem an up-beat quality, the rhyme scheme also implies frenzied emotions: This contributes to the idea of the speaker’s complete submission to their partner
	The poem uses a refrain, “'i wanna be yours'”	The poem’s song-like structure inspired the band, Arctic Monkeys, to include a version of it on one of their albums
	However, the structure contributes, too, to darker themes in the poem: The long monologue consists of eight stanzas	The poem’s structure creates a sense of desperation in its declarations of love
	Cooper Clarke’s poem defies traditional forms of romantic poetry, yet conforms to conventions of a romantic song to present the intensity of a romantic relationship

Language

The poem 'i wanna be yours' uses metaphorical imagery that mostly undermines traditional romantic symbolism. However, Cooper Clarke’s poem portrays love as consuming and perhaps a little suffocating. 

Theme	Evidence	Poet’s intention
Romantic relationships	The imagery is modern and unusual: Using a “Ford Cortina” and “electric meter” seems to draw closer attention to ideas to which they connote	Cooper Clarke’s language is suggestive of a love that is not concerned with rules or traditions: This may indicate a rebellion from shallow ideas of love and illustrate the “depth” of emotion the speaker feels
	The speaker wants to be a source of comfort and protection, a “raincoat” and a “teddy bear”	Imagery is used to persuade the listener of the benefits of their relationship
	The speaker offers constant attention in lines like “breathing in your dust” and “i will never rust”	The poem symbolises an all-consuming passion by alluding to a constant (perhaps stifling) commitment
	By the end of the poem, romantic allusions are evoked with the simile: “deep as the deep/atlantic ocean”	The poem’s conclusion is a repetitive reassurance of the speaker’s deep love
	Cooper Clarke’s poem is an eclectic mixture of imagery that connotes to an intense love

Examiners repeatedly state that context should not be considered as additional factual information: in this case, it is not random biographical information about John Cooper Clarke or facts unrelated to the ideas in 'i wanna be yours'. The best way to understand context is as the ideas and perspectives explored by Cooper Clarke that relate to romantic and intense or complex relationships. 

This section has therefore been divided into two relevant themes that Cooper Clarke explores:

• Romantic relationships
• Complex love and intense desire

Romantic relationships 

• John Cooper Clarke was born in 1949 in Salford, Lancashire, England
• His northern heritage inspires his work’s poetic and auditory quality:
• The poem 'i wanna be yours' is reflective of this musical style, for example in the line “deep deep deep deep de deep deep”
• Cooper Clarke’s early work included performance poems and songs that he performed in clubs in Manchester in the 1970s and 1980s
• Here, frequent interactions with musicians and bands led to further musical influences:
• Rhyming lines in the poem 'i wanna be yours' are typical of pop love songs 
• Its short, fast-paced rhythm is typical of punk music’s dynamic nature: 
• This is also evident in the emphatic refrain “'i wanna be yours'” and “let me be”
• Cooper Clarke is known for his distinctive, colloquial style, evident in the poem’s use of phrases and puns such as “call the shots” and “dreamboat”:
• In this way, Cooper Clarke uses qualities of performance poetry and punk music to express intense emotions in a real way
• The poem 'i wanna be yours' is typical of this genre in its employment of an unconventional metaphor such as a “vacuum cleaner” and an “electric meter”
• These styles draw inspiration from popular culture (such as in “Ford Cortina”)
• The images signify genuine emotions and relationships that are “real”

Complex love and desire

• Cooper Clarke is known as the “people’s poet” as he often uses non-standard English: 
• The poem 'i wanna be yours' conveys the voice of an everyday person
• Cooper Clarke’s poem presents a generally unromanticised idea of love and, at times, shows its stifling and complex intensity:
• This can be considered typical of the genre of realism, in which everyday items are used to express deep emotions
• Using banal images in the poem, such as a “coffee pot”, is indicative of a post-modern perspective:
• This genre is known for expressing ironic or cynical attitudes about reality
• Perhaps the addition of another person (“hers”) signals potential threats to love
• Cooper Clarke is said to have been inspired by the Beat poets of the 1960s:
• The Beat generation is known for its many writers and artists who rebelled against established social and political structures
• The poem’s reference to “electric heater” and “meter” alludes to vital sources of warmth:
• Cooper Clarke wrote the poem in 1983 or 1984, at a time when England’s working class were experiencing economic difficulties 
• Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of Britain, had put in place controversial policies that led to a disillusioned working class
• In the poem, the speaker suggests the need to be a source of comfort in difficult times: they refer to sailing away and “frequent rainy days”

The essay you are required to write in your exam is a comparison of the ideas and themes explored in two of your anthology poems. It is therefore essential that you revise the poems together, in pairs, to understand how each poet presents ideas about relationships, in comparison to other poets in the anthology. Given that 'i wanna be yours' explores the ideas of romantic relationships and complex love, the following comparisons are the most appropriate:

• 'i wanna be yours' and 'How do I love thee? (Sonnet 43)'
• 'i wanna be yours' and 'Love's Dog'
• 'i wanna be yours' and 'Valentine'

For each pair of poems, you will find:

• The comparison in a nutshell
• Similarities between the ideas presented in each poem
• Differences between the ideas presented in each poem
• Evidence and analysis of these similarities and differences

'i wanna be yours' and 'How do I love thee? (Sonnet 43)'

Comparison in a nutshell:

Both John Cooper Clarke’s 'i wanna be yours' and Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s ‘Sonnet 43’ present insistent speakers who declare love to an implied listener. However, Cooper Clarke conveys this in a post-modern poem while Barrett Browning uses a traditional sonnet. 

Similarities:

Topic sentence	Both poems are intimate addresses to a romantic partner
Evidence and analysis	‘i wanna be yours’	'How do I love thee? (Sonnet 43)'
	Cooper Clarke’s first-person speaker offers themselves to a listener in a refrain: “i wanna be yours”	Barrett Browning’s poem is also a direct address to a loved one: The repetitive “I love thee” conveys an urgent and persuasive tone
	Cooper Clarke’s speaker reinforces their argument with anaphora (“let me be your”) which creates an insistent tone	Barrett Browning’s speaker also builds a strong argument to prove their love: A question begins the poem, “How do I love thee?”, followed by an emphatic reply, “Let me count the ways.”
	Cooper Clarke creates a brooding, soul-searching speaker:  The speaker says “that’s how deep is my emotion” The breakdown in language in “deep deep deep deep de deep deep” conveys this idea	Similarly, Barrett Browning presents an introspective speaker: The lines “I love thee to the depth and breadth and height/My soul can reach” stresses the intimacy of the romantic relationship
	The poets depict emotional and personal conversations that declare commitment to a romantic relationship

Similarities:

Topic sentence	Both speakers describe love as powerfully impactful
Evidence and analysis	'i wanna be yours'	'How do I love thee? (Sonnet 43)'
	Cooper Clarke connotes to love that is constant (perhaps obsessively so): The line “i will never rust” implies a long-lasting love  The speaker will go “anywhere” (they “don't care”)	Barrett Browning presents love as similarly consuming using hyperbolic language: They love with “every day’s/Most quiet need”
	Cooper Clarke’s poem describes love in relation to emotions: The imagery is related to comfort on bad days as well as good As well as being an escape, they will be a “teddy bear”, a “coffee pot” and a “raincoat”	Similarly, Barrett Browning’s list conveys love sentimentally: “I love thee with the breath,/Smiles, tears, of all my life”
	Cooper Clarke also conveys a love that is entire:  The speaker wants to breathe in their lover’s “dust”	Barrett Browning also alludes to darker themes as she portrays a complete love:  The speaker says, “I shall but love thee better after death.”
	The poets both present love as intense and highlight its overwhelming effect

 

Evidence and analysis	'i wanna be yours'	'Love's Dog'
	Cooper Clarke’s poem is a persistent list using anaphora: This creates a persuasive tone that hints at obsession with the repetitive “let me be your”	Hadfield’s poem, in contrast, consists of regular rhyming couplets that represent a balanced voice:  Hadfield mirrors lines, such as “What I love” and “What I hate”
	The speaker in 'i wanna be yours' is submissive, offering a love that is entire	Hadfield’s speaker, in contrast, clearly presents love as oppositional
	Cooper Clarke’s speaker appears overwhelmed by love, offering themselves entirely to the relationship: The speaker says “take me with you anywhere/i don’t care”	In contrast, Hadfield uses magical allusions to acknowledge love’s ability to delude and bring madness: Love is described as a “shrinking potion” The poem refers to the magical story of Alice in Wonderland Love is related to treasure (“doubloons”) and pirates to connote adventure
	Cooper Clarke’s dramatic poem presents a fervent speaker’s impassioned submission to a romantic relationship, which contrasts with Hadfield’s reflective evaluation of love

Differences:

Topic sentence	While Cooper Clarke undermines traditions related to romantic poetry, Barrett Browning’s conventional sonnet elevates its ideas
Evidence and analysis	'i wanna be yours'	'How do I love thee? (Sonnet 43)'
	Cooper Clarke’s lyrical poem breaks conventions using non-standard grammar: A lack of punctuation creates a spontaneous, unreliable speaker	In contrast, Barrett Browning uses a sonnet: The traditional rhythm of Petrarchan sonnets conveys a controlled speaker
	Cooper Clarke uses colloquial language such as “you call the shots”	In contrast, Barrett Browning elevates love with archaic language and classical references, such as “thee” and “as men strive for right”
	Cooper Clarke’s postmodern poem uses everyday objects as symbols of love: The poem uses metaphorical imagery such as an “electric heater” and “Ford Cortina” and “setting lotion”	Keeping with tradition, ‘Sonnet 43’ uses religious imagery to imply pure love: The speaker compares their love to “childhood’s faith” It is stronger than love for “lost saints”
	Cooper Clarke subverts conventional, clichè ideas while conveying intense love, while Barrett Browning’s Victorian poem alludes to Romantic traditions

'i wanna be yours' and 'Love's Dog' 

Comparison in a nutshell:

This is an effective comparative choice to explore the presentation of romantic love in modern poems. Both poems convey love as powerful, but Cooper Clarke’s lyrical address is a declaration of complete love while Hadfield’s poem is a balanced abstract reflection. 

Similarities:

Topic sentence	Both poems can be considered postmodern interpretations of romantic relationships
Evidence and analysis	'i wanna be yours'	'Love's Dog'
	Cooper Clarke uses colloquial language to present a realistic portrayal of love, for example “you call the shots” and “wanna”	Hadfield also offers a realistic assessment of love: The unconventional and repetitive “What I” emphatically contrasts what the speaker loves and hates about love
	Cooper Clarke creates a casual voice with non-standard grammar and internal rhyme, for example “coffee hot” and “coffee pot”	In 'Love's Dog', too, simple rhymes like “me” and “me” create an irreverent tone: This is also seen in half-rhymes like “serum” and “potion”
	Both poets undermine traditional presentations of romantic relationships with realist poems to convey authenticity

Topic sentence	Both poems juxtapose the powerful impact of love with simple imagery
Evidence and analysis	'i wanna be yours'	'Love's Dog'
	Cooper Clarke’s symbolism is drawn from everyday life to draw attention to its strength: For example, the speaker refers to “setting lotion” and an “electric heater”	Hadfield also uses unconventional metaphor to describe love’s power: The speaker says love is a “diagnosis” and that they hate its “prognosis” Love is a “sick parrot”
	Cooper Clarke uses auditory and performative devices: The passion in the relationship is conveyed with alliterative lines like “deep deep deep deep de deep”	Hadfield similarly highlights imagery with alliteration:  Love is described unconventionally in phrases such as “bird-bones”, “burnt toast and bonemeal” and “bent cigarette”
	Cooper Clarke describes love’s intensity with household items: The speaker wants to breathe in their partner’s “dust” like a “vacuum cleaner”	'Love's Dog' also refers to mundane things that connote to strong emotions: Love is compared to a “boil-wash” and a “spin cycle” to connote to chaotic emotions
	Both poets portray love as physically impactful and potentially dangerous

 Differences:

Topic sentence	Cooper Clarke’s lyrical poem conveys a passionate speaker who surrenders entirely to love, while Hadfield’s poem is a balanced and conceptual reflection
Evidence and analysis	'i wanna be yours'	'Love's Dog'
	Cooper Clarke’s poem is a persistent list using anaphora: This creates a persuasive tone that hints at obsession with the repetitive “let me be your”	Hadfield’s poem, in contrast, consists of regular rhyming couplets that represent a balanced voice:  Hadfield mirrors lines, such as “What I love” and “What I hate”
	The speaker in 'i wanna be yours' is submissive, offering a love that is entire	Hadfield’s speaker, in contrast, clearly presents love as oppositional
	Cooper Clarke’s speaker appears overwhelmed by love, offering themselves entirely to the relationship: The speaker says “take me with you anywhere/i don’t care”	In contrast, Hadfield uses magical allusions to acknowledge love’s ability to delude and bring madness: Love is described as a “shrinking potion” The poem refers to the magical story of Alice in Wonderland Love is related to treasure (“doubloons”) and pirates to connote adventure
	Cooper Clarke’s dramatic poem presents a fervent speaker’s impassioned submission to a romantic relationship, which contrasts with Hadfield’s reflective evaluation of love

 

 'i wanna be yours' and 'Valentine'

Comparison in a nutshell:

Both poems are modern explorations of intimate romantic relationships. However, John Cooper Clarke’s poem is an interpretation of obsessive love, while Carol Ann Duffy’s poem is a pragmatic warning. 

Similarities:

Topic sentence	Both poems examine the deep emotions of individuals in romantic relationships
Evidence and analysis	'i wanna be yours'	'Valentine'
	Cooper Clarke’s poem conveys a sense of urgency and passion:  The poem’s repetitive phrasing “i wanna be yours” implies a passionate speaker The speaker urges, “I don’t care/i wanna be yours”	Similarly, the speaker in Duffy’s poem conveys a sense of urgency in their declaration of love: Anaphora of the word “It” or “Its” makes the poem’s form more of a list
	Cooper Clarke begins with the speaker’s allusion to the chaos of love: “i wanna be your vacuum cleaner/breathing in your dust”: Darker emotions are implied in “let me be your raincoat/for those frequent rainy days”	Duffy’s sensory imagery also suggests the danger of intense love:  The speaker says love can “blind” with “tears” and that it is “Lethal.” Duffy refers to a “knife” and a “scent” that will “cling” to “fingers”
	Cooper Clarke’s unconventional imagery draws attention to the speaker’s desires:   The speaker wants to be an “electric meter” and a “coffee pot”, for example	Duffy’s poem, similarly, uses simple objects to symbolise passionate love, such as an onion’s “fierce kiss” and a “photo of wobbling grief”
	As both post-modern presentations of love, the poems show the depth of emotions felt by individuals within romantic relationships

 

Differences:

Topic sentence	John Cooper Clarke illustrates intense and obsessive love, whereas Carol Ann Duffy’s speaker is cynical and realistic
Evidence and analysis	'i wanna be yours'	'Valentine'
	Cooper Clarke’s poem consists of a long, hyperbolic list of ways the speaker wants to belong entirely to their lover	Duffy’s speaker emphasises the speaker’s honesty in an isolated line, “I am trying to be truthful”
	Cooper Clarke offers a presentation of a speaker’s unabandoned loyalty: Repetition of the phrase “deep devotion” using rhyme (“ocean” and “emotion”) exaggerates emotions	In contrast, Duffy’s speaker is pragmatic: For example, a one-line stanza creates a blunt tone: “Here.”
	Cooper Clarke’s poem refers to a deep and passionate love:  The lines “take me with you anywhere/i don’t care” imply an obsessive love	On the other hand, Duffy’s speaker conveys disdain for idealised versions of love through alliteration: This is emphasised with repetition: “Not a red rose” and “Not a cute card or kissogram”
	While Cooper Clarke’s speaker expresses an uninhibited declaration of commitment, Duffy’s speaker attempts to offer a genuine expression of love