Always Think

Song Meaning

The narrator recounts a father's advice, a mix of self-preservation and ambition. We hear directives to be assertive, "beanstalk tall," and to engage directly, "stare into their eyes." There's also a push for industriousness, to be a "busy bee in the world's beehive." This initial framing sets up a world of competition and the need for a strong facade. The core tension emerges between the father's external directives and the narrator's internal state. The repeated mantra, "Always think," becomes a heavy burden. The father's rules for "contestants" clash with the narrator's self-perception as "just one." This internal conflict is amplified by the imagery of eyes, initially meant for outward projection, becoming "windows with nice new blinds" and "reflections inside." The most striking craft element is the subtle subversion of the father's own advice. The narrator echoes "always talk beanstalk tall" and "busy bee," but then twists "address the crowd" into "undress the crowd." This shift suggests a deeper, perhaps more vulnerable, form of engagement or exposure, moving beyond the father's prescribed performance. The repetition of "Always think" acts as both an instruction and a growing anxiety, a constant internal hum. These lyrics hit hard because they capture the pressure of inherited expectations. The father's well-meaning but potentially rigid advice creates a performance anxiety for the narrator. The internal monologue, punctuated by "Always think," reveals the struggle to reconcile outward presentation with inner reality, making the simple command a source of profound unease.