3 Boys by Omar Apollo Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Complex Emotions of Love and Longing
Lyrics
I know it’s hard for you to be alone
But that’s where we’re different
I’d be emotionless all the way, if I could
I should take your advice and find someone new
So I could have two
I don’t want to
Fell asleep with your hand on my skull
And my face in your lap
At the Bowery Hotel, missin’ you
How did I fall so fast?
Seems like everything I do take me further from you
Three boys would work if I wasn’t so tethered to you (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
What should I do? (Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
I can’t even choose (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
I’m tethered to you, hey (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
You pray to God that it would leave (it won’t leave)
All that you feel for me (all that you feel)
It won’t be light, it won’t feel right
My hand ’round your neck that you’re tortured by (tortured, ooh)
Spend a lot of time with you, I can’t let go
I know there’s some things you can’t speak
But thoughts of a third make me weak, weak
I don’t want to
Fell asleep with your hand on my skull
And my face in your lap
At the Bowery Hotel, missin’ you
How did I fall so fast?
Seems like everything I do take me further from you
Three boys would work if I wasn’t so tethered to you (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
What should I do? (What should I do? Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
I can’t even choose (I can’t even choose, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
I’m tethered to you (I’m tethered to you), hey (ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
In the lush soundscapes of Omar Apollo’s discography, ‘3 Boys’ emerges as a hauntingly beautiful exploration of love’s complexities and the personal struggles within relationships. Apollo, known for his soulful voice and genre-blending music, delivers a narrative rich with emotion and vulnerability in this track.
As we delve into the lyrics, an intricate tale of longing, devotion, and the difficult choices that come with deep emotional connections unfolds. Apollo’s words paint a vivid picture of an individual torn between desires, tied down by the very bonds that define love’s intensity.
A Tapestry of Tenderness and Tension
Omar Apollo weaves a delicate tapestry of tender moments shared and the underlying tension of being ‘tethered’. The song opens with a desire to be alone, juxtaposed with an admission of needing someone despite that yearning for solitude. It sets a tone of internal conflict, echoed in the soft, yet potent delivery of his verses.
Through evocative imagery, such as ‘fell asleep with your hand on my skull,’ Apollo pulls listeners into an intimate sphere where the warmth of closeness battles with the chilly revelation that proximity alone can’t always conquer emotional distance.
The Paradox of Love’s Liberty and Chains
Apollo’s refrain, ‘three boys would work if I wasn’t so tethered to you,’ repeats like a mantra, highlighting the paradox of love’s freedom and constrictions. His longing for other connections is palpable, yet he cannot shake off the invisible chains, symbolizing a profound love that both lifts and weighs down.
This powerful motif challenges the listener to consider love not just as a source of joy, but also as an anchor, locking one within an emotional purgatory. The contradictory nature of Apollo’s feelings serves as a reminder that love’s deepest bonds might also be our most significant barriers.
The Echo of Silent Desperation
Silence speaks volumes in ‘3 Boys’, as highlighted by the line ‘I know there’s some things you can’t speak.’ Apollo captures the essence of unspoken truths within relationships—the fears, desires, and confessions simmering beneath the surface, unarticulated but intensely felt.
The inherent weakness that arises from such thoughts, ‘thoughts of a third make me weak,’ reveals how even the mere idea of additional love interests can unravel one’s composure, suggesting that emotional fidelity is as complex and fragile as the physical one.
The Haunting Grip of ‘What Should I Do?’
Throughout ‘3 Boys’, Omar Apollo repeatedly asks, ‘What should I do?’, a haunting refrain that becomes the song’s plaintive cry for clarity. Caught in the web of his emotions, the question mirrors the helplessness and indecision that so often accompany the most profound bonds we form.
As the song progresses, each repetition feels heavier, imbuing the track with a desperate yearning for answers that may never come. These lines linger with listeners long after the music fades, echoing the complexities of the human heart.
Beneath the Lyrics: A Hidden Narrative of Growth
At its core, ‘3 Boys’ is not merely a track about relational dynamics, but also a hidden narrative of personal growth and self-discovery. Apollo’s internal discourse mirrors the tug-of-war within all of us as we navigate love’s highs and lows and our journeys to understand our desires and limitations.
The song acts as a mirror, reflecting the listener’s own experiences of love’s dichotomy—the euphoria of connection and the sorrow of realizing some connections can never be fully realized. Omar Apollo has deftly turned personal turmoil into a universal ode to the bittersweet symphony of love.
