Metaphorical meaning to the phrase "play on" ?

[th.19]

Hello teachers,

I have a question about the phrase "play on."

I understand that it is used in sports (to keep on playing) and for music ("let the music play on"), but is it often used metaphorically as well?

Carrie Underwood's song, "Play On," uses the phrase to mean that people should "carrie on with life" (at least from my understanding). Is this kind of metaphorical usage common for this phrase? (I've actually found different songs with the same title, which seem to have a similar meaning)

Here are some lines from the song:
Even though it's the storm on the darkest night
Don't you ever give up the fight
Even when you feel you're all alone
Play on
Play on

Thank you teachers for your help as always.

th

[emsr2d2]

Without knowing what the whole song is about, it's impossible to say what the writer of the lyrics meant by "Play on". Remember that song lyrics don't always follow grammatical rules and sometimes they make no sense at all. They are written to fit the melody and the rhythm of the song.

[JMurray]

not a teacher

I agree with emsr2d2, and outside of the contexts you mention, I don't think "play on" is a common phrase. Much more common and meaning something very similar to "get on with life", especially through adversity, is "soldier on".

[th.19]

Thank you both for your responses!

[emsr2d2]

"Play on" is very common in certain sports. It's also rather familiar to afficionados of Shakespeare's romances - "If music be the food of love, play on".