These Days

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of someone caught in a loop of self-recrimination and confusion, feeling that the current period of their life offers no affection or clarity. The repeated phrase "These days don't love me" establishes a tone of pervasive emotional neglect, not from a person, but from time itself. This feeling is amplified by the narrator's inability to find rest or direction, as they are "doing laps in my head" and "can't take a nap." The car imagery, "riding 'round the city with the tank on E," suggests a state of depletion and aimlessness, mirroring the internal exhaustion. The narrator acknowledges causing "pain" and accepts blame, indicating a self-awareness of past mistakes, yet this awareness doesn't immediately lead to resolution. The central tension lies in the narrator's struggle with their own behavior and its consequences, coupled with an inability to understand or change it. They admit to being "so selfish I can't help myself" and confess, "You don't know what's wrong with me I know you wonder why." This internal conflict is compounded by the feeling that their current "days" are actively unsupportive, making any attempt at self-improvement feel futile. The idea that "everyday alive is a gift and a curse" encapsulates this deep-seated ambivalence about their own existence and the passage of time. Verse 2 introduces a plea for external validation and growth, "I need more sun to grow / A little love to hold," contrasting with the feeling of being "left in places all alone." The shift from "no self control" in the past to a present where love is recognized as precious, yet still elusive, highlights a developing, albeit painful, understanding. The repeated questions, "What is wrong?" and "Can't find what's best for me," underscore a persistent disorientation. The outro offers a surprising pivot, where the narrator declares, "These days don't love me and that's ok," followed by affirmations that "Everything is gonna be alright." This suggests a potential acceptance of the current state, even if the underlying reasons remain unknown, as a step toward peace. What makes these lyrics resonate is the raw, almost conversational admission of internal turmoil and the absence of easy answers. The repetition in the chorus creates a sense of being trapped, while the verses offer fragmented glimpses into the narrator's self-perception and their yearning for something more. The final acceptance, "and that's ok," coupled with the repeated mantra of things being "alright," offers a fragile but hopeful resolution, acknowledging that peace can be found even without complete understanding or external affection.