​ritual

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of someone stuck in a cycle of self-destructive habits and a feeling of profound inadequacy. The opening lines immediately establish a sense of unattainable goals, with the narrator feeling "unteachable" and dropping out of college. This sets the stage for a narrative where mundane, unhealthy behaviors are elevated to the status of sacred rites, like "drinking Monster Energy like it's a fucking ritual." The repetition of these core feelings in the chorus reinforces the inescapable nature of this personal rut. The verses veer into a chaotic stream of consciousness, juxtaposing bizarre imagery with crude humor and expressions of aggression. The narrator claims to be "jingling these bells" and shooting "magic Glock" spells, a surreal image that hints at a disconnect from reality or a performative attempt at control. This is contrasted with mundane details like working at Subway and the desire to "eat a grenade," highlighting a deep dissatisfaction with their current existence. The lyrics suggest a desperate attempt to shock or provoke, perhaps as a coping mechanism for the underlying despair. The most striking aspect is the deliberate elevation of unhealthy coping mechanisms to a "ritual." Smoking cigarettes "when I get sad 'cause it's habitual" and chugging energy drinks are presented not just as bad habits, but as quasi-religious acts. This framing is deeply ironic, turning the mundane and self-destructive into something performed with a sense of purpose, however misguided. It's a dark, almost absurd commentary on how people can imbue their destructive patterns with a sense of order when feeling lost. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their raw, unfiltered depiction of feeling stuck and resorting to unhealthy routines for a semblance of control. The blend of self-deprecation, absurd imagery, and the ritualistic framing of bad habits creates a potent, albeit bleak, portrait of someone grappling with their own perceived failures. The narrator's voice feels immediate and unvarnished, making the feeling of being trapped in a cycle palpable.