Song Meaning
The narrator recalls a past self, one driven by an almost primal need for freedom and self-determination. This earlier version of themselves operated with a fierce, unyielding gaze, believing their internal will was the ultimate authority. There was a sense of unburdened agency, a feeling that no external force could dictate their path or demand justification for their actions. It paints a picture of someone who felt entirely self-sufficient, operating outside conventional constraints.
This initial confidence seems to have evolved into a more strategic approach to navigating the world. The lyrics suggest a shift from pure, unadulterated will to a calculated engagement with systems and expectations. The idea of not needing to "tell the truth" implies a recognition of social games and the power dynamics within them. The narrator now understands that their "future" is theirs to shape, and they possess the "tools" to do so, even if it means bending or reinterpreting the established "rules."
The final stanza reveals a tension between patience and impatience, between careful planning and impulsive action. The narrator describes playing for time with "measured steps" while simultaneously seeking creative solutions in "metered texts" for a "rhyme." These "riddles" represent the complex, often nonsensical challenges they face. Ultimately, the frustration with impenetrable barriers leads to a decisive, perhaps defiant, choice: if they can't dismantle the obstacles, they'll find a way around them, embodying a spirit of resourceful rebellion.