Song Meaning
This track is a fierce declaration of self-possession, built on a foundation of learned resilience. The narrator has actively "cut you off" and "leave you out," establishing a clear boundary that prioritizes their own internal state. The repeated refrain, "my body is my own," isn't just a statement of physical autonomy; it's a hard-won peace, signaling a refusal to be defined or diminished by external judgment or presence. This is about reclaiming agency after a period of being negatively impacted by others.
The core tension arises from the narrator's detachment from external validation and potential harm. They express a remarkable indifference to being "malign[ed]" or "abuse[d]," framing this not as apathy but as a strategic internal focus born from having "nothing left to lose." This suggests a past where such external forces held significant power, but a transformation has occurred, rendering them impotent against the narrator's newfound self-containment. The lyrics imply a deep internal shift that makes external attacks irrelevant.
The most striking aspect is the narrator's vision of a future, even a next life, as a means of proving their worth and capabilities. They've "saved for my next incarnation" with "boxes, bags and bowls of breath" and "bales of joy and raw elation," preparing to "break me through the wall of death." This isn't about escaping the present but about a profound belief in their own potential, a conviction that their true value and ability to "put those things to use" will eventually be undeniable, even across lifetimes.
Ultimately, the power of these lyrics lies in their unflinching portrayal of self-sufficiency as a shield. The narrator has learned to "hide my feelings" and "laugh alone," finding solace and strength within. The image of "my skin is peeling" through "sun and sea" suggests a process of shedding the old, weathered self, but crucially, "my body remains my own." This enduring claim, repeated with quiet insistence, solidifies the profound victory of internal sovereignty over external forces.