Song Meaning
Aaron Sprinkle's "Not About To" operates in the delicate space between resignation and resolve. The opening lines, "Shake the water off my hands / And count the moments / That you really understand this disappointment," suggest a weary acceptance of recurring setbacks. It’s the kind of emotional fatigue that settles in after repeated cycles of hope and disillusionment, a feeling many listeners will recognize. The desire to break free from this cycle is palpable, with the singer expressing a longing to "open up these blinds and get to seeing." This isn't just about physical light; it's about gaining clarity and perspective after a period of emotional darkness.
The chorus offers a counterpoint to this weariness. The repeated assertion, "I am not about to," becomes a mantra of defiance against giving in to despair. This is reinforced by the image of a "day much quieter than this," a future moment of peace and connection where the singer can offer comfort and reassurance. The lines "I know that you could feel / Like a girl on a ferris wheel / Falling down the stairs and then / We could do it again we could to it again..." is a potent metaphor for the cyclical nature of anxiety and emotional turmoil, the feeling of being trapped in a loop of ups and downs.
Ultimately, "Not About To" is a song about resilience. It acknowledges the weight of disappointment and the allure of giving up, but it chooses instead to cling to hope and connection. The song's genius lies in its honesty; it doesn't offer easy answers or saccharine platitudes. Instead, it provides a realistic portrayal of the struggle to maintain optimism in the face of adversity, reminding us that even in the darkest moments, the choice to keep going is always within our reach. The closing lines, "Not about to let it go," solidify this theme, suggesting a refusal to surrender to negativity and a commitment to fighting for a brighter future.