Song Meaning

The lyrics open with a powerful, almost defiant declaration: "We are." This repetition builds into a communal anthem, setting the stage for a narrative of resilience. The verses then unpack the specific traumas and aggressions faced by a group, transforming them into a source of strength. It’s a raw acknowledgment of past hurts, from verbal abuse to physical threats, framed as a process of "turning shit into strength." The central tension lies in the reclamation of self-worth after being devalued. The narrator acknowledges a past where their bodies and faces were scrutinized, and they were told they were "fucked up." This external judgment is contrasted with an internal awakening, a process of "reimagining our limits" and recognizing their own "greatness." The act of "grasping back at the hands that tried to tell us that our lives aren't worth living" is a visceral image of resistance. The most striking craft element is the deliberate repurposing of negative language and experiences. The lyrics take the "objects from cars, unwanted advances, and weapons" and the labels of "unwanted and weird, loud, unruly and opinionated, ugly" and reframe them. They are not just endured but actively transformed into "power." The repeated phrase "always surviving" acts as a persistent refrain, underscoring a continuous, active state of overcoming rather than passive endurance. This writing hits hard because it validates experiences of marginalization and abuse while centering the agency of those who have endured them. It’s not just about surviving; it’s about actively extracting power from the very things meant to diminish them. The direct address and communal "we" create an inclusive space for shared struggle and triumphant self-definition, making the act of survival feel like a radical, ongoing act of creation.