Are You Satisfied? by Marina Lyrics Meaning – The Quest for Authentic Happiness in a One-Size-Fits-All Society
Lyrics
The day I got the deal, chemically calm
Was I meant to feel happy
That my life was just about to change?
One life pretending to be
The cat who got the cream
Oh, everybody said, “Marina is a dreamer”
People like to tell you
What you’re gonna be is not my problem if you don’t see what I see
And I do not give a damn if you don’t believe
My problem is my problem that I never am happy
It’s my problem, it’s my problem on how fast I will succeed
Are you satisfied with an average life?
Do I need to lie to make my way in life?
High achiever, don’t you see?
Baby, nothing comes for free
They say I’m a control freak
Driven by a greed to succeed
Nobody can stop me
‘Cause it’s my problem if I wanna pack up and run away
It’s my business if I feel the need to smoke and drink and sway
It’s my problem, it’s my problem if I feel the need to hide
And it’s my problem if I have no friends and feel I want to die
Are you satisfied with an average life?
Do I need to lie to make my way in life?
Are you satisfied with an easy ride?
Once you cross the line will you be satisfied?
Sad inside, in this life
Unsatisfied, praying
Sad inside, in this life
Unsatisfied, waiting
Are you satisfied with an average life?
Do I need to lie to make my way in life?
Are you satisfied with an easy ride?
Once you cross the line will you be satisfied?
Black, white (are you satisfied, are you satisfied?)
Black, white (are you satisfied, are you satisfied?)
Black, white (are you satisfied, are you satisfied?)
Black, white (are you satisfied, are you satisfied?)
In a world teeming with instant gratification and measureless ambition, Marina’s evocative track, ‘Are You Satisfied?’ lays bare the turmoil of the modern soul trapped in a relentless pursuit of success. At the heart of the song lies a question that is simple in its asking, yet profound in its implications. As listeners, we are compelled to confront our own reflections within the sharp edges of her lyricism.
Marina, with a scalpel-like precision, dissects the facade of societal expectations to reveal an underbelly of discontent. The song isn’t just a melody but a journey—a reckoning with self-worth and satisfaction in an age where the benchmarks of ‘enough’ keep shifting. It’s this relentless search for meaning amidst societal pressures that the song so vividly captures, and we’re about to unpack its layered narrative.
A Vivid Portrait of Success and Its Discontents
The opening lines are confessional and set the stage for a story of paradoxical success. Marina speaks of the day she got ‘the deal’ but feels nothing but a chemically induced calm. Herein lies the dichotomy of achieving one’s dreams yet feeling an apparent absence of expected jubilation.
This stark admission sends us spiraling into the depths of an artist’s psyche, where professional victories don’t always equate to personal fulfillment. The societal yardstick of success paints a glamorous veneer, but the song’s protagonist remains haunted by an intrinsic, unanswered question—does this success equate to happiness?
Chasing the Cat’s Cream: The Relentless Race for More
Marina describes herself as ‘pretending to be the cat who got the cream,’ a vivid portrayal of the pressure to appear content with one’s achievements in the public eye. Everyone sees the dreamer in her, but can they see the cost it exacts on her spirit?
It’s an allusion to the hollow victory of attaining societal praise while grappling with an inner sense that not all is as fulfilling as it seems. The juxtaposition of external perceptions and internal reality creates a tension that propels the song forward, asking the listener to ponder the value of public acclaim versus personal satisfaction.
The Hidden Desolation Behind a Mask of Ambition
Amidst the assertions of independence and control, ‘Are You Satisfied?’ touches a nerve—it’s about the loneliness that can accompany ambitious drive. The repeated admission that ‘it’s my problem’ serves as both a declaration of autonomy and a silent cry for understanding.
The mantra-like quality of these lines beckons the listener to look closer at the oft-overlooked emotional cost of relentless self-sufficiency and the guise of success. The song masterfully masks a deeper message of emotional turmoil beneath its anthemic chorus, reinforcing the refrain that exposes the singer’s true struggle with inner demons and dissatisfaction.
Unpacking Societal Questions with Memorable Lines
Marina’s song repeatedly poses the direct, almost confrontational question: ‘Are you satisfied with an average life?’ In its repetition, the query isn’t just pointed outward but serves as a reflective surface, challenging the very definition of ‘average’ and the conditioned aversion to it.
The use of contrasting descriptors like ‘average’ and ‘easy ride’ against ‘high achiever’ and ‘control freak’ creates a powerful societal critique. The song’s stark black and white imagery, further referenced in the closing lines, suggests a dismissal of the nuanced shades of human experience in favor of clear, often harsh delineations of success and failure.
The Final Verdict: Satisfaction or Eternal Striving
In the culmination of the track, Marina lays out the stark choices: an average life or a deceitful ascent to a scripted form of success. The song’s crescendo doesn’t offer resolution but rather leaves the listener dangling in the balance between societal expectation and personal contentment.
This non-resolution is the genius of ‘Are You Satisfied?’ as it mirrors the endless human quest for satisfaction in a world that holds up a funhouse mirror to our deepest desires. The song’s strength lies in its ability to resonate with a universal internal battle—making peace with one’s ambitions and the measure by which one chooses to define triumph.
