Unguarded

Song Meaning

Rae Morris's "Unguarded" is a siren song pitched to a future lover, a plea for a connection so profound it melts the carefully constructed defenses we all erect. The track isn't just about finding love; it's about the terrifying vulnerability required to truly let someone in, the willingness to dismantle the "safe behind the glass" and risk the messy, unpredictable reality of intimacy. Morris lays bare the central conflict: the simultaneous desire for deep connection and the ingrained habit of self-protection. The lyrics reveal a yearning to shed the guarded persona, a persona perhaps born from past hurts ("the pain of the preset aside"), and embrace a future defined by openness. The repeated invocation of "future love" underscores a sense of longing and anticipation. It's not a passive waiting game, though. There's an active call to this unknown partner, a directive to "guide me closer" and even to offer correction ("Tell me when I'm not quite doing it right"). This hints at a desire for a relationship built on honesty and mutual growth, a space where imperfections are not only tolerated but actively addressed. The chorus, with its central image of being "unguarded together," becomes a mantra, a declaration of intent. It's a vision of reciprocal vulnerability, where both partners shed their protective layers and meet in a space of authentic connection. The simple, almost childlike request to be colored in "any color that you want, carelessly or not" is particularly poignant. It speaks to a willingness to relinquish control, to trust the other person with the delicate task of shaping one's identity within the relationship. The "La la la" bridge, juxtaposed with the repeated line "I keep it all in, everything guarded," amplifies the internal struggle. It's a moment of raw emotion, a glimpse behind the carefully constructed facade. Ultimately, "Unguarded" is a testament to the courage it takes to pursue genuine connection, a reminder that true love demands we dismantle the walls we've built around our hearts, brick by painful brick.