​scared

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a vivid picture of intense anxiety, framed by a surreal, almost dreamlike scenario. The opening lines, "Don't move, there's a lion next to you," immediately establish a sense of immediate, overwhelming danger. This external threat is juxtaposed with an internal vision of "angels circling," suggesting a longing for guidance or a higher ideal that the narrator feels incapable of reaching, seeing only "everything you ever wanted me to be" in this idealized space. The core tension arises from the narrator's profound fear, triggered by the depth and immensity perceived in another person's eyes and soul, described as "oceans." This overwhelming feeling leads to a morbid thought: "So if we both drown." The narrator then attempts to soothe this fear, both their own and the other person's, with the repeated refrain, "Ooh, don't be scared / I'm right here." This creates a push-and-pull between paralyzing dread and a desperate attempt at reassurance. The most striking craft element is the deliberate ambiguity of the "lion" and the "oceans." Are these literal threats, or potent metaphors for the overwhelming pressures and expectations the narrator faces, particularly in relation to the person they address? The shift from "eyes" to "soul" in the pre-chorus suggests a deepening of this perceived immensity. The narrator’s admission, "So yeah, I'm scared / But I won't let it get to me," reveals a conscious effort to confront this fear, even while acknowledging its power. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their raw portrayal of internal struggle. The narrator grapples with an externalized fear, symbolized by the "lion" and the "oceans," while simultaneously trying to project strength and offer comfort. The simple, direct language, especially in the chorus, grounds the emotional turmoil, making the internal conflict feel both deeply personal and universally understood through the shared experience of confronting overwhelming fear.