Research: Analysis of lyrics and idea development

Analysis of lyrics:

[Verse 1]

I'm broken, tell you I'm fine

But you wouldn't believe me if you knew the things that crossed my mind

And I'm hurting, but I show no sign

Because I'm afraid to give in, break down, and waste your time

analysis: When you're depressed, you feel as though everything is going wrong, and the thoughts that are racing through your head are so harmful and even terrifying that you find it hard to believe they came from your own mind. But it's simpler to claim you're "just fine" when someone asks than to explain all of the sorrow and pain, and occasionally it may get so awful you believe you can frighten someone away, which unfortunately happens occasionally. Jonah is saying that when people are depressed or unhappy, they frequently conceal their emotions and are skilled at doing so. People who are depressed fear appearing needy and the criticism that "they aren't sad enough." He doesn't want to take up their time with a pointless discussion.

[Chorus]

(One, two, three)

Now I'm begging you to come and pull me out of the fire

Come and save me like you did when we were young

Oh, please, come bring me out

From my lowest take me higher

Can you see me through the ashes and the smoke?

analysis: Their own minds and all the issues they face are represented by "The Fire." The same is true of your ideas and self-discipline. Fire is dangerous and untamed, and you may actually lose command of it. They can always count on this person to come to their rescue because they have constantly had their back, even when they were little. A fire that spreads out of control can become deadly, burn everything it comes in contact with, and produce smoke and ash. Again, everything is a metaphor for problems that are either psychological, cognitive, or physical. It's difficult to understand who they truly are or where they are underneath all of their troubles because they have caused so much havoc and their thinking is so fogged. As a result, they have lost some of themselves.

[Verse 2]

I'm lonely, it's been so long

Since I felt love, to smile, felt strong

And what can I do when I'm not friends with my reflection?

When I don't understand affection like you do

analysis: You have reached the point when you loathe yourself ("my reflection") and your mind is at its boiling pitch. You can tell you like someone and care for them if you are their friend. Therefore, when you don't become friends with "your own reflection". It demonstrates how little you love and just how much you simply despise yourself. This passage can be construed in a variety of ways, but it's possible that he simply lacks the ability to comprehend what it means to be loved, to feel strong, or to experience real joy because his negative emotions are so pervasive that they undermine what little hope he still has, in contrast to the person he is referring to, who appears to be fine and has "no problems."

[Bridge]

You say that you'll help me, tell me I'm worth it

But I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it

It's easy for you 'cause you know you're perfect

And I need your hand but I don't want to burn it

There's blood on the counter and tears on the pages

While I write you a letter and then I quickly erase it

I'm shattered and beat down, broken, weak now

analysis: He cannot believe those who tell him they love and care for him because, in his eyes, they are worthless. He is yearning to reach out to others for support, love, and assistance but is too afraid to do so for fear of upsetting them with his suffering. This is what Jonah means when he says that they are physically injuring themselves in some way. When you are in such a delicate situation, you just overthink everything, even the tiniest things like a letter. You can sense the anguish in his tone and how the emotion increases slightly on this bridge. The letter may also be seen as a reference to how, when someone is contemplating suicide or is going to harm themselves, they may write a letter to say goodbye; in this situation, however, the person still experiences suffering.

(lyrics via genius https://genius.com/22369370)

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Idea development:

With the help of the lyrics' interpretation, this music video depicts depression and sorrow and shows how although we all experience these emotions, some of us are simply better at hiding them than others. The accusation that "they aren't sad enough" and appearing needy are two things that depressed people worry about. He doesn't want to monopolise their time with an idle conversation. They have wreaked so much destruction and their thinking is so clouded that it's hard to know who they really are or where they are underneath all of their issues. They have consequently lost some of their identity. When Jonah claims that they are harming themselves physically in some way, he really means this. You simply overthink everything when you are in a delicate situation, even the little things like a letter.

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