Cringe by Matt Maeson Lyrics Meaning – The Tortured Soul’s Anthem Unraveled

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Matt Maeson's Cringe at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

Lover come over
Look what I done
I been alone so long
I feel like I’m on the run

Lover come over
Kick up the dust
I got a secret
Starting to rust

She said I’m looking like a bad man
Smooth criminal
She said my spirit doesn’t move like it did before
She said that I don’t look like me no more, no more
I said, “I’m just tired”
She said, “You’re just high”

I said I saw you in the water
I said I saw you in the water

Lover come hold me
Heads on the fritz
Body intoxicated
Feelings comfortably mixed
Lover come hold me
Could you forget?
I got a secret
Digging a ditch

She said I’m looking like a bad man
Smooth criminal
She said my spirit doesn’t move like it did before
She said that I don’t look like me no more, no more
I said, “I’m just tired”
She said, “You’re just high”

I said I saw you in the water
I said I saw you in the water

Sweating all your sins out
Putting all your thoughts back together
Oh, we just don’t blend out
All of my attempts seem to weather

Oh, I make you cringe now
Don’t I make you cringe?
Oh, I make you cringe now
Don’t I make you cringe?

She said I’m looking like a bad man
Smooth criminal
She said my spirit doesn’t move like it did before
She said that I don’t look like me no more, no more
I said, “I’m just tired”
She said I’m looking like a bad man
Smooth criminal
She said my spirit doesn’t move like it did before
She said that I don’t look like me no more, no more
I said, “I’m just tired”
She said, “You’re just high”
I said I saw you in the water (do I make you cringe?)
I said I saw you in the water (do I make you cringe?)
I said I saw you in the water (do I make you cringe?)
I said I saw you in the water (do I make you cringe?)

In an industry that revels in the production of catchy hooks and upbeat rhythms, it’s a rare gem that penetrates the surface to touch the heart’s shadows. ‘Cringe’ by Matt Maeson is one such darkhorse—a quietly fierce contender that captures the essence of internal struggle, cloaked in the garb of acoustic resonance and rousing lyrics.

Diving into the labyrinth of Maeson’s evocative storytelling, one uncovers layers of emotional depth and poignant honesty. The song isn’t just a series of verses and a chorus, but a confessional of a soul in turmoil, wrapped in a gorgeously melancholic melody.

A Secret Rusted Over Time: The Core Struggle Unveiled

The opening lines ‘Lover come over/Look what I done’ set a tone of desperation and urgency, suggesting a revelation or confession that’s been brooding in loneliness. Maeson’s admission of a ‘secret starting to rust’ indicates an aspect of himself or his life that’s been neglected, now deteriorating – hidden problems or vices that have been festering in silence.

This burning need to share his struggles with a ‘lover’ – whether this represents a specific person or a call for empathy from others – adds an intimate dimension to the song, hinting that sharing one’s pain is both a plea for understanding and a step towards salvation.

Mirror, Mirror: The Reflection of Self-Change and Alienation

Often, it’s through the eyes of others that we recognize the shifts within ourselves, and ‘Cringe’ holds a mirror to this uneasy truth. The partner character’s observation that Maeson ‘doesn’t move like it did before’ and ‘doesn’t look like me no more’ serves as an external confirmation of significant internal changes – changes that are not only physical but sit deeper in the psyche.

This alienation from the self, evidenced by the contrast between his tired denial and her assertion that he’s ‘just high,’ speaks volumes about the chasm between reality and one’s self-perception. The song captures this identity crisis, one that is often exacerbated by substance abuse or emotional turmoil.

Waves of Confession: The Hidden Depths of ‘I Saw You in the Water’

One of the most hauntingly recurrent lines in ‘Cringe’ is ‘I said I saw you in the water,’ which feels like a cryptic piece to this complex puzzle. At face value, it could represent a literal vision – a reflection of Maeson or his lover – but metaphorically, water is often a symbol for emotions, consciousness, and cleansing.

This phrase could suggest a moment of clarity within the turmoil, a sighting of truth or purity amid the muddied waters of his life. A confession of ‘seeing’ either himself or his partner in their truest form amidst the chaos, begging for recognition, understanding, and perhaps absolution.

The Discomforting Dance of Redemption: ‘I Make You Cringe Now’

The chorus, with its plaintive cry of ‘Oh, I make you cringe now,’ is a raw acknowledgment of the discomfort Maeson generates within his partner and possibly within the listener. The term ‘cringe’ here is multifaceted, signifying the partner’s reaction to his changes and perhaps his self-judgment.

This discomfort could be seen as a necessary part of the healing journey – recognizing the aspects of one’s behavior that are repelling to others as a step towards change. It’s a vulnerable admittance that to rectify the internal discord, he might have to embrace the cringe-inducing process of confronting the painful truths.

The Echoes That Resonate: Memorable Lines That Haunt the Listener

A well-crafted song lingers beyond the last chord, and ‘Cringe’ leaves a series of whispered echoes in its wake. Lines like ‘Lover come hold me/Heads on the fritz’ and ‘I got a secret/Digging a ditch’ are those echoes, painting the struggle of a man grappling with his demons, seeking comfort yet acknowledging the work yet to be done.

The duplicity of needing to be held while simultaneously digging oneself deeper into trouble is a stark, relatable image. It illustrates the often self-sabotaging nature of human behavior, and these lines become the uncomfortably relatable remnants of the song that listeners take with them, long after the music fades.