Give Yourself A Try by The 1975 Lyrics Meaning – Decoding the Millennial Malaise and the Pursuit of Authenticity
Lyrics
Like friends don’t lie and it all tastes the same in the dark
When your vinyl and your coffee collection is a sign of the times
You’re getting spiritually enlightened at 29
So just give yourself a try
Won’t you give yourself a try?
Won’t you give yourself a try?
Won’t you give?
I found a grey hair in one of my zoots
Like context in a modern debate, I just took it out
The only apparatus required for happiness
Is your pain and fucking going outside
And getting STDs at 27 really isn’t the vibe
Jane took her own life at 16
She was a kid who had the box tattooed on her arm
And I was 25 and afraid to go outside
A millennial that baby-boomers like
Won’t you give yourself a try?
Won’t you give yourself a try?
Won’t you give yourself a try?
Won’t you give?
And what would you say to your younger self?
Growing a beard’s quite hard
And whiskey never starts to taste nice
And you’ll make a lot of money, and it’s funny
‘Cause you’ll move somewhere sunny and get addicted to drugs
And spend obscene amounts on fucking seeds and beans online
So just give yourself a try
Won’t you give yourself a try?
Won’t you give yourself a try?
Won’t you give?
In the landscape of contemporary music, where authenticity battles with artifice, The 1975’s ‘Give Yourself A Try’ emerges as an anthem of self-discovery and raw reflection. With its pulsing beat and candid lyrics, the track excavates the depths of millennial anxieties, urging listeners to confront the discomforts of personal growth.
Frontman Matty Healy’s introspective journey through the song’s verses captures not only a moment in his life but also serves as a mirror for the generational psyche. The deceptively upbeat tune disguises a labyrinth of emotional complexity, beckoning for a deeper exploration into its core message.
The Vinyl Metaphor and Generational Nostalgia
As Healy contrasts the ownership of vinyl records and coffee collections with spiritual enlightenment, there’s an unmistakable nod to how millennials curate symbols of past eras as a bridge to understanding their place in the world. These items, signifiers of a ‘better’ time, hint at a generation grappling with the notion that perhaps they were born too late into a world racing ahead of them.
The vinyl metaphor within ‘Give Yourself A Try’ artfully conveys a yearning for authenticity in an age obsessed with the shallow and the digital. Healy indirectly questions whether these collections serve as genuine extensions of the self, or simply a means to soothe the modern soul’s search for identity.
Understanding the Grey Hairs of Modern Existence
The discovery of a grey hair is a universal sign of aging, of moving beyond the folly of youth. But Healy plucks it from the context as swiftly as from his head, underscoring the fragmentation of discourse among his peers. This line folds in the absurdity of searching for meaning amid society’s cacophony, where the grey hairs multiply not just on scalps but within the very fabric of conversation.
The grey hair symbolizes maturity, a rueful acknowledgement of the inevitable passage of time paralleled by a critique of the vacuousness often found in ‘modern debate.’ The lyric highlights a sense of loss—of youth, of clarity, and perhaps of hope.
Between the Lines: The Song’s Hidden Meaning
Beyond the façade of simplicity, ‘Give Yourself A Try’ harbors a profound commentary on the tumult of growing older in the digital age. One might perceive the song’s repeated refrain, an invocation to self-experimentation, as an ode to resilience in the face of life’s relentless trials.
Digging deeper, the hidden meaning blossoms into an exploration of the self-help culture that inundates millennials. It’s a call to arms to face the world, STDs and all, as a reminder that life’s scars are often the greatest teachers. The track dares listeners to eschew the comfort of the known and to plunge into life’s messy, beautiful fray.
Memorable Lines That Etch Themselves into Memory
‘And I was 25 and afraid to go outside / A millennial that baby-boomers like’ – The line captures an existential angst, brimming with the fear of an unkind world, couched between the pressures of generational expectations. Healy’s vulnerability crystallizes into a poignant emblem for countless young adults frozen on the threshold of their potential.
Or consider the directness of ‘And you’ll make a lot of money, and it’s funny / ‘Cause you’ll move somewhere sunny and get addicted to drugs’ – a wry observation on the fruitless pursuit of happiness through material and hedonistic means. These words resonate with a bitter truth, challenging the listener to ponder the genuine source of contentment.
Why ‘Give Yourself A Try’ Is a Siren Song for Self-Acceptance
The relentless urging to ‘give yourself a try’ doubles as encouragement and a stark reminder: life is not a spectator sport. It’s an invitation to embrace imperfection, to take risks, acknowledging that it is through attempts, failures, and perseverance that one finds purpose and joy.
By the song’s end, the plea to face oneself in the mirror transcends mere pop lyricism; it becomes a mantra for anyone standing on the precipice of choice in life, career, or love. ‘Give Yourself A Try’ thrums with the beat of hope—that in doing, failing, and trying once more, we might truly find ourselves.
