Square 9

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a determined, perhaps even defiant, optimism in the face of uncertainty. The opening lines, "My good big deeds / I'd say are more like clouds than concrete," immediately establish a sense of intangible, perhaps unreliable, positive actions. This is contrasted with a stated intention to "colonize" by day and "bring peace" by night, suggesting a grand, if vaguely defined, ambition. The narrator urges someone to "keep all your hopes" and "work out how to complete these," indicating a shared project or a personal quest that requires focus and perseverance. The central tension arises from the narrator's insistence on a "hopeful smile" and "hopeful words" as tools to "stomp out fear." This is presented as a deliberate choice, something the narrator "likes about this year" because "Square 9 is here." The repetition of "peel those eyes" and "peel those ears" in the chorus emphasizes a need for clear perception and reception, suggesting that the message of hope and the arrival of "Square 9" are crucial and demand full attention. The act of "stomping out fear" is framed as an active, almost aggressive, countermeasure to negativity. A fascinating element is the recurring motif of "square one" in the outro. The narrator revisits past stages of a relationship or personal history, explicitly rejecting "square two," "square three," and "square five" as not involving a true "me and you" or a state of being "half alive." This selective memory and focus on a singular, idealized beginning "where we fell in love" suggests that "Square 9" represents a return to or a re-establishment of that foundational, authentic connection, purging the less meaningful or painful experiences that came after. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their blend of aspirational language and a grounded, almost tactical approach to emotional well-being. The narrator isn't just wishing for good things; they are actively directing attention and perception towards a specific, positive outcome embodied by "Square 9." The contrast between the ephemeral nature of "clouds" and the concrete action of "stomping out fear," combined with the deliberate erasure of past relationship stages, creates a compelling narrative of recommitment and the power of a singular, hopeful focus.