It’s Alright

Meaningful Music Series - Post 1

Music is a very important part of my life. Listening to the right song can change my mood and outlook. It has been a passion project of mine to share songs that have meaning to me, in hopes that they help someone else.

To start with, I chose “It’s Alright”, by Mother Mother. This song inspires a hope in me and allows me to feel like I’m not alone when struggling with negative self talk and negative self image.

Lyrics

Lets dive into the lyrics.

Verse 1:

Oh hey, I had a night I had a day
I did one million stupid things
I said one billion foolish things
I'm not okay, I got a baseball bat beside my bed
To fight off what's inside my head
To fight off what's behind my meds
I'm lonely; lost in pain

This verse highlights negative self talk and that point where we get stuck thinking about all of the things that went wrong in the past. We relive the things we said and did, usually with disdain and self-loathing, trying to reimagine we had made a different choice. We berate ourselves and look at only the negative. I appreciate that it highlights the loneliness of being stuck in your own head thinking of your could-have/would-have/should-haves. As someone who often groans out loud when reliving a particularly cringe moment in recent past, I can sometimes get lost in my negative self talk and feelings.

Chorus:

It's alright, it's okay, it's alright, it's okay
You're not a monster, just a human
And you made a few mistakes
It's alright, it's okay, it's alright, it's okay
You're not gruesome, just human
And you made a few mistakes
It's alright, oh, it's okay, oh

I absolutely love this chorus, and welcome it getting stuck in my head. I believe it to be a great mantra and a gentle reminder to ourselves that we are in fact just human, we will make mistakes, and that is ok.

Verse 2:

Goddamn
I threw a brick right through the window
My life ignored the signals
I'm high and drunk on ego, can't see straight
So I just feel my way around and
I'm touching and I'm grabbing everything I can't be havin'
I am broken down in shame

This verse speaks to me about the absolute funks I can get in when I feel like everything I do and everything I touch just turns to garbage, no matter my intention. The shame of doing something wrong is literally forced upon us at an early age by society’s standards, standards that are impossible to live up to. I also like how “high and drunk on ego”. To me this is about how great you are when things are going right, usually before you self reflect on all of the things that didn’t go perfectly. I also take it as a personal reminder to stop using unhealthy coping mechanisms to deal with the shame of imperfection.

Chorus 2:

It's alright, It's okay, it's alright, it's okay
You're not a demon, there's a reason
You behaved in that way
It's alright, it's okay, it's alright, it's okay
And I believe, yes I believe that you will see a better day
It's alright, oh, it's okay, oh, it's alright, oh

While still humanizing grief and self doubt, this chorus also brings up an amazing point. “There’s a reason you behaved in that way.” Okay, we all know the reason… say it with me now… TRAUMA! That’s right! (for more information on trauma click here). You are not to blame for the trauma you have suffered. You just need to learn from it. Find your triggers and try to temper your reactions to those triggers. The more you contemplate on the why and not the what, the more you will grow and change. It is the ultimate silver lining.

Who doesn’t need someone in their life to say this, “And I believe, yes I believe that you will see a better day.” Yeah, the now might suck, the past might be shitty, but if we keep working on improving ourselves and our community, we have to believe that there will be a better day coming.

Bridge:

I don't wanna know who I am
'Cause heaven only knows what I'll find
I don't wanna know I'm not capable of coming out alive
I don't wanna see what's inside
I think that I would rather be blind
I don't wanna know I'm not capable, I'm capable

I honestly didn’t mean to bring up growth and change before this, but it worked out perfectly. Change is terrifying. Looking at ourselves in a way that sees our weaknesses, well, it sucks. We’re not supposed to have vulnerabilities and weaknesses, we’re strong people that just break sometimes. I don’t want to spend time thinking about the bad stuff. I don’t want to analyze why I do what I do. I just want to berate myself for doing the dumb thing. Who cares if it keeps happening again and again… Shit. Once we get over the initial fear of looking inward, choosing to find the why instead of the what, we realize that we are freaking capable!

Final Chorus:

I'm alright, I'm okay, I'm alright, I'm okay
I'm not a monster, I'm a human
And I've made a few mistakes
I'm alright, I'm okay, I'm alright, I'm okay
I'm not gruesome, just human
And I've made a few
It's alright, It's okay, it's alright, it's okay
You're not a demon, there's a reason
You behaved in that way
It's alright, it's okay, it's alright, it's okay
I believe, yes I believe that you'll see a better day
It's alright, oh, it's okay, oh, it's alright, oh

Hell yeah! We did it! We are telling ourselves we are alright! We’ve made mistakes, we own them and grow from them! We’re living as models and supports for those that haven’t gotten there yet. I wish it happened as quickly as a 3 minute song, but unfortunately we are each a messed up puzzle that still has more work to be done, even if we found where this particular piece fits… there are still more to connect.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope it helps with your personal growth and that it benefits the community you share that growth with. I can’t wait to share more of my Meaningful Music with you!

Special shout out to Mother Mother (Producers Ryan Guldemond & Ben Kaplan). Follow them wherever you listen to music!!