Well Aware

Song Meaning

The narrator is navigating a world where external voices spew negativity, particularly directed at their relationship, but they remain unfazed. The repeated phrase "I'm well aware" acts as a shield, acknowledging the "shit" and hateful comments without letting them penetrate. This isn't ignorance; it's a conscious choice to dismiss the noise, especially when contrasted with the intimate, albeit casually expressed, affection like "I love you, bitch." The core tension arises from the clash between societal prejudice and the narrator's personal reality. Verses and the bridge directly confront homophobia, with the narrator quoting hateful remarks like "Straight better are better" and "You aren't natural." Yet, these attacks are met with a defiant "What do they know?" and a dismissive "Real original," highlighting the disconnect between the critics' narrow worldview and the narrator's lived experience. The lyrics suggest a history of facing such animosity, as evidenced by the line "Do they know that before them, we were first?" A striking craft element is the use of parenthetical asides and quoted speech, which creates a dynamic dialogue between the narrator's inner thoughts and the external voices they're reacting to. These interjections, like "(All the homophobes)" and "(What do they know?)", frame the hateful statements, exposing their absurdity and the narrator's awareness of their source. The casual inclusion of "F slur" and the instruction "You go back to church, sir" further weaponize the very language used against them, turning it into a dismissive retort. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their raw portrayal of resilience. The narrator isn't just enduring hate; they're actively processing it and choosing not to be defined by it. The promise "I'd move to Delaware if you were there" grounds the abstract defiance in a concrete, intimate desire, making the narrator's inner strength feel both personal and aspirational. It’s this blend of outward confrontation and inward assurance that makes the message of being "well aware" so potent.