Coming of Age by Foster the People Lyrics Meaning – The Anthem of Transformation and Self-Discovery
Lyrics
And you got those crying eyes
Makes me wanna surrender and wrap you in my arms
You know I try to live without regrets
I’m always moving forward and not looking back
But I tend to leave a trail of dead, while I’m moving ahead
So I’m stepping away
‘Cause I got nothing to say
Feels like, feels like it’s coming
It feels like, feels like
Like a coming of age
Feels like, feels like it’s coming
It feels like, feels like a coming of age
And when my fear pulls me out to sea
And the stars are hidden by my pride and my enemies
I seem to hurt the people that I care the most
Just like an animal I protect my pride
When I’m too bruised to fight
And even when I’m wrong I tend to think I’m right
Well I’m bored of the game
And too tired to rage
Feels like, feels like it’s coming
It feels like, feels like
Like a coming of age
Feels like, feels like it’s coming
It feels like, feels like a coming of age
Feels like, feels like it’s coming
It feels like, feels like
Like a coming of age
Feels like, feels like it’s coming
It feels like, feels like a coming of age
Feels like, feels like it’s coming
It feels like, feels like
Like a coming of age
Feels like, feels like it’s coming
It feels like, feels like a coming of age
Foster the People’s ‘Coming of Age’ isn’t just a melodious tune that climbed the charts; it’s a poignant narrative encapsulating the turmoil and epiphanies tied to the human experience of growing up. This song, which seeps into the consciousness with its catchy hooks and evocative lyrics, invites a deep dive into what frontman, Mark Foster, has described as a personal acknowledgment of maturity.
Amidst the lush indie pop soundscapes, ‘Coming of Age’ conceals layers of emotional depth. This song resonates with listeners, serving as a mirror reflecting the haunting, bittersweet nature of growing up. The lyrics are steeped in the recognition of past mistakes, the pain they’ve caused, and the silent hope for personal redemption through growth. Let’s analyze the contours of this formidable anthem.
A Mirror to the Soul: Recognizing Our Flaws
The song opens with an intimate confrontation, painting an imagery of a ‘rabid dog’ with ‘crying eyes.’ Herein lies a duel connotation – an aggressive front hiding an inner vulnerability. This juxtaposition is a recurring theme throughout ‘Coming of Age,’ which delves into the facade we often put up amidst the fear of exposing our true selves.
Foremost, the lyrics highlight the innate human tendency to mask our weaknesses. It’s a defense mechanism against not only the world’s judgement but also our own. Foster lyrically articulates the struggle between wanting to comfort and the compulsion to guard oneself, weaving a complex narrative of self-protection and regret.
Nostalgia Meets Regret: Leaving a Trail of Dead
The narrative progresses to an admission of collateral damage—the ‘trail of dead’—a metaphor for the relationships and opportunities we leave behind as we ‘move forward.’ Mark Foster’s songwriting encapsulates the poignant truth that in our pursuit to live without regret, we often leave unintended destruction in our wake.
There’s an inherent melancholy in this admission, a nostalgic longing for the ability to navigate life without hurting those around us. The lyrics do not shy away from shedding light on this inherent human flaw, urging listeners to reflect on the impact of their own life’s journey on others.
Deciphering the Hidden Meaning: An Emotional Voyage
As the chorus erupts with the declaration of ‘coming of age,’ there’s an undeniably profound hidden meaning woven into its core. It’s more than just reaching a certain milestone; it’s an emotional voyage where pride, fear, and external adversities clash, forcing an introspective journey to the surface.
Coming of age here doubles as a metaphor for personal evolution—recognizing the sheer force of our internal battles and the effect they have on others. It speaks to the essence of maturation as an ongoing struggle, rather than a finite point of arrival.
The Battle Cry: Too Bruised to Fight, Yet Resilient
There comes a point in the song, and in life, when the struggle to maintain one’s ego becomes exhausting. Foster’s words, ‘just like an animal I protect my pride when I’m too bruised to fight,’ unveil the raw truth that even in defeat and vulnerability, our innate human instinct is to shield our core.
This line stands as a battle cry for those weary from the perpetual fight to stay afloat amid life’s chaos. It’s an acknowledgment of the scars we’ve endured, and yet, through the recognition of our fragility, ‘Coming of Age’ implants a seed of hope—suggesting that even our bruises can be testament to an inner strength.
The Echo of Memorable Lines: Anchors in a Sea of Melody
Certain songs have the power to etch their lyrics into our memory, and ‘Coming of Age’ is one of them. ‘Feels like it’s coming, feels like a coming of age’—this simple, yet powerful, refrain ignites a feeling of anticipation, of a transformative period that is both exhilarating and daunting.
These words act as anchors throughout the song, grounding the listener in the repetitive, yet revelatory nature of growth. It’s this aspect of the chorus, its repetitive insistence, that captures the cyclical nature of coming of age—a process that repeats itself, in various forms, throughout our lives.
