How We Do This

Song Meaning

The narrator begins by guarding their heart, believing isolation is the safest path. They've built walls, thinking, "If I don't go there, I won't get hurt." This defensive posture is challenged by a "pretty girl" who poses a crucial question: if you avoid all pain, do you also forfeit the capacity to feel anything else? This direct confrontation forces the narrator to reconsider their self-imposed emotional lockdown. The core tension lies in the conflict between the narrator's fear of vulnerability and the undeniable pull of a new connection. The lyrics articulate this struggle: "What to take, and isn't gonna break me down." There's a recognition that true fulfillment requires risk, a departure from the sterile safety of being "on my own." The realization that "nothin can come from nothin" is the catalyst for considering a change. The most striking craft element is the juxtaposition of the narrator's internal monologue of self-protection against the external prompt from the "pretty girl." Her simple question, "are you ever gonna feel another thing my friend," acts as a key that unlocks the narrator's guarded heart. The recurring "la la la la" and "ha ha ha ha" in the pre-chorus, especially when paired with the idea of their heart being "good for one more kick," suggests a tentative, almost childlike embrace of this new feeling, a willingness to be moved despite the inherent risks. This song resonates because it captures that universal moment of standing on the precipice of emotional engagement. The lyrics skillfully depict the internal debate between the comfort of solitude and the potential joy of connection. The narrator's eventual willingness to "come round" and acknowledge that "I believe you're worth it," even while admitting "It's scary givin up your heart," makes the leap toward vulnerability feel earned and profoundly human.