Bravado by Lorde Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Layers of Self-realization and Courage
Lyrics
I’ve been fighting a war
I can’t talk to you or your friends
It’s not only you
My heart jumps around when I’m alluded to
This will not do
‘Cause I was raised up
To be admired to be noticed
But when you’re withdrawn it’s the closest thing
To assault when all eyes are on you
This will not do
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
I’m faking glory
Lick my lips toss my hair
And send a smile over
And the stories brand new
But I can take it from here
I’ll find my own bravado
It’s a switch flipped
It’s a pill tipped back, it’s a moon eclipsed, whoa
And I can tell you that when the lights come on I’ll be ready for this
It’s in your blood stream
A collision of atoms that happens before your eyes
It’s a marathon run or a mountain you scale without thinking of size
I was frightened of every little thing
That I thought was out to get me down
To trip me up and laugh at me
But I learnt not to want
The quiet of the room with no one around to find me out
I want the applause the approval the things that make me go
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
It’s a switch flipped
It’s a pill tipped back, it’s a moon eclipsed, whoa
And I can tell you that when the lights come on I’ll be ready for this
It’s in your blood stream
A collision of atoms that happens before your eyes
It’s a marathon run or a mountain you scale without thinking of size
I was frightened of every little thing
That I thought was out to get me down
To trip me up and laugh at me
But I learnt not to want
The quiet of the room with no one around to find me out
I want the applause the approval the things that make me go
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh
In the caverns of contemporary music, there are select tracks that resonate beyond melody and rhythm, becoming anthems of personal journeys and collective experiences. Lorde’s ‘Bravado’, a lesser-publicized gem from her ‘The Love Club EP’, accomplishes just this. Through its hauntingly visceral lyrics, ‘Bravado’ serves as a confessional backdrop for confronting fears, harnessing inner strength, and unapologetically craving recognition.
The song navigates the turbulent waters of self-doubt, the pursuit of external validation, and the ultimate realization that bravery comes from within. Unpacking the lyrics reveals layers upon layers – it’s a deeply introspective piece disguised as a rhythmic call to arms, heralding the internal battle between who we’re perceived to be and who we strive to become.
An Escapade into the Battlefields of Self-Conflict
All my life, I’ve been fighting a war,’ Lorde confesses, setting the stage for a narrative of inner turmoil that resonates with many. The idea of life as a continuous battle is not unusual in artistic expressions, but Lorde adds a unique, intimate touch to this familiar trope. She doesn’t present her struggle as a grandiose epic but instead as a silent, personal war, a relentless struggle with the shadows lurking within.
It’s in the hesitation to engage with those who surround her, a clear indication of an inner conflict manifesting in social seclusion. Lorde paints a picture of a heart that ‘jumps around’ at mere allusions – a palpable anxiety produced by the thought of scrutiny. It’s a battle that is as much with the external world as it is with her self-perception.
The Quest for Recognition: A Cloaked Desire
‘I was raised up to be admired, to be noticed,’ Lorde vocalizes a yearning that weaves through the human condition – the desire to be seen and appreciated. This acknowledgment, painful in its honesty, exposes the fragile scaffolding upon which many base their self-esteem. The song captures the dichotomy of craving spotlight while simultaneously feeling assaulted by its glare.
The raw vulnerability in the admission that with eyes turned away she feels the sting of invisibility, depicts a soul searching for bravado not just as courage, but as a lifeline to self-validation. It’s a brave confession of our often unspoken hunger for approval.
Bravado as an Acquired Sword: The Hidden Meaning
Though ‘Bravado’ may seem like an exploration of youthful insecurities, it delves deeper into the hidden reservoirs of what it means to face oneself. Lorde describes ‘faking glory’ and sending practiced smiles, revealing bravado as something acquired, rather than innate – a performance perfected over time.
In this, the song encapsulates a universal human experience: that real bravado often comes from acknowledging one’s vulnerabilities and then choosing to act despite them. It’s not the absence of fear but the defiance against it; a switch flipped, a pill tipped back – an eclipse of our doubts beneath the will to shine.
Scaling Mountains in the Mind: Memorable Lines of Triumph
‘It’s a marathon run or a mountain you scale without thinking of size,’ is a line that soars, speaking to the commitment to tackle life’s challenges head-on. It’s in these words that Lorde’s song transforms from a personal manifesto to a universal declaration of empowerment.
The evocative imagery of a ‘collision of atoms’ suggests that bravado – the act of courage – is a force as primal and formidable as the very building blocks of nature. It’s more than a feeling; it’s a fundamental shift in existence that occurs before our eyes, catalyzing growth and change.
The Alchemy of Applause: Craving and Conquering
Lorde’s journey through ‘Bravado’ culminates in the powerful admission, ‘I want the applause, the approval, the things that make me go’. It is a call to embrace the things that drive us, the external stimuli that fuel our passions and propel us forward.
‘Oh, oh, oh, oh’– these simple syllables echo like the heartbeat of the song, a mantra for those yearning to transform whispered self-doubt into roars of self-assurance. ‘Bravado’ isn’t just a song; it’s a metamorphosis of spirit, an ode to the courage we summon amidst the battlefield within.
