Monarch

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of someone grappling with external expectations, particularly from a figure who claims deep understanding. The narrator is presented with a prescribed identity, a heavy "armour" tied to "honour" that feels burdensome. This external pressure is contrasted with the narrator's own burgeoning sense of self, a desire to define their own path. The central tension lies in the conflict between the imposed identity and the narrator's internal drive for self-definition. The repeated phrase "told me who you want me to be" highlights the external voice, while the narrator's assertion "I told you who I wanna be" signals a pushback. This struggle feels like "wrestling an iron sea," suggesting a powerful, almost overwhelming force. The repeated "Read what you're writing" in the outro is particularly striking. It could imply a desperate plea for the other person to truly see and understand the narrator's own narrative, or perhaps a resigned acknowledgment of the other's unchangeable script. The "armour" and "honour" suggest a deeply ingrained, perhaps familial or societal, expectation that weighs heavily on the individual. This song resonates because it captures that suffocating feeling of being molded by others' visions. The craft lies in the stark contrast between the passive reception of directives and the active, albeit difficult, assertion of self. The imagery of heavy armour and an iron sea effectively conveys the immense pressure and struggle involved in breaking free from imposed identities.