July

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a relationship steeped in emotional ambiguity and a desperate need for escape. The narrator feels intensely connected to someone who seems to carry a deep, unspoken pain, describing them as a "past life" and noting how they "leave the pain in your eyes for me to find." This intense, almost fated connection is juxtaposed with a sense of being overwhelmed and stuck, particularly during the month of July, which is described as a "mess." The imagery of being "stuck in the sun, I soak and then I dry" suggests a cycle of exposure and withdrawal, unable to find relief or resolution. The central tension lies in the push and pull of intimacy and distance, honesty and evasion. The narrator wishes the other person were "honest sometimes," yet also finds themselves drawn to a deceptive sweetness, as seen when the person "press[es] lips so tight" and offers a kiss that is immediately retracted with "nevermind." This creates a confusing emotional landscape where genuine connection feels just out of reach, leading to a recurring plea: "We gotta find a new place to hide out." This repeated line underscores a shared desire to escape the current emotional environment, suggesting the situation is unsustainable. The most striking lyrical device is the repeated question, "Will you paint for me?" This appears in the bridge, following a description of a look that seemed "so honest and sweet." The request to paint, especially in the context of a relationship fraught with unspoken pain and fleeting intimacy, feels like a plea for permanence or a tangible expression of the other person's inner world. It’s a desire for something real and lasting amidst the emotional flux, a hope that the other person can translate their perceived honesty into something the narrator can hold onto, even as the month of July, and the relationship, feels like a chaotic, sun-baked mess.