Mulling It Over

Song Meaning

The narrator is caught in a state of deep contemplation, a mental processing that feels both overwhelming and strangely calming. The initial verses paint a picture of absorbing information rapidly, likening the experience to riding a feeling into "deeper seas." This suggests a surrender to the process, a deliberate choice to not "fret" even as the influx of thoughts is immense. The repeated phrase "mulling it over" becomes a mantra, emphasizing the sustained, almost hypnotic nature of this internal work. The core tension emerges when the lyrics pivot from this introspective calm to stark, almost childlike expressions of financial hardship. The bridge juxtaposes nursery rhymes with a yearning for a guitar and the inability to afford more than "crumbs." This sharp contrast highlights a disconnect between the narrator's expansive mental landscape and their material reality. It implies that while the mind can wander freely, the body is tethered by economic limitations. The most striking aspect of the craft is the way the song uses repetition not just to reinforce the central theme of contemplation, but to build an almost frantic energy, especially in the extended chorus and freestyle sections. This sonic mirroring of the lyrical content—over and over, mulling it over—mirrors the obsessive nature of deep thought. The shift in Verse 2, observing someone else "strung out on future" and clutching their chest, offers a parallel or contrast to the narrator's own state, suggesting that this intense focus on what's to come, or what could be, carries a palpable anxiety. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their ability to capture the dual nature of deep thought: its potential for profound insight and its capacity to feel like an endless, sometimes anxious, loop. The song grounds abstract contemplation in concrete, relatable desires for basic comfort and the sharp sting of financial insecurity, making the internal struggle feel both deeply personal and universally understood.