Minor Feelings by Rina Sawayama Lyrics Meaning – An Exploration Behind the Mellow Melancholia
Lyrics
When you’re telling me that nothing in my life is real?
When you throw your words and hide behind a plastic shield
I just sit and smile
Writing my own fairytales
Building forts between the sofa and the windowsill
Dreaming of the day I’m tall enough to save myself
But I was just a child
What it takes to recognize
Emotions that I try to hide
The more I keep them all inside
The more they bury me alive
All my life, I’ve felt out of place
All my life, I’ve been saving face
For all these minor feelings are majorly breaking me down
(Breaking me down)
All my life, you took me for a fool
All my life, you told me what to do
All these minor feelings are majorly getting to me now
Rina Sawayama’s ‘Minor Feelings’, a soul-stirring piece from her repertoire, cascades down the delicate intersections of identity and emotion, mirroring the lived experiences of many who stand on the fringes of mainstream narratives. She is not just a singer; she is a storyteller, weaving the threads of her complex cultural backdrop into a sonic tapestry that speaks volumes of the minor feelings often dismissed by society.
Through the vulnerable confessions of ‘Minor Feelings’, Sawayama deftly navigates the often-overlooked emotional landscapes tied to cultural upbringing and personal growth. The song’s lyrical depth resonates with a visceral intensity, underscored by the singer’s own multicultural history, drawing listeners into a poignant dance with the shadows of their lesser-acknowledged emotions.
The Raw Reveal: Unmasking the Plastic Shield
Sawayama doesn’t just sing; she peels back the veneer of societal expectations to reveal the raw nerves underneath. Her lyrics ‘When you throw your words and hide behind a plastic shield, I just sit and smile’ speak to the emotional armor many don as a facade to protect their most authentic selves. This metaphor of the plastic shield is a cry against the artificial barriers that we are forced to erect even in our most personal interactions.
The act of sitting and smiling becomes a form of resilience, one that challenges the authenticity of the connections we are permitted to have. Sawayama subverts the minimization of emotional experiences, branding them as ‘minor feelings,’ and raises a crucial dialogue about the price of emotional conformity in a world that treasures homogeneity.
Building Castles from Couch Cushions: The Sanctuary of Imagination
In the lines ‘Writing my own fairytales, Building forts between the sofa and the windowsill,’ Sawayama taps into the universal haven of childhood where imagination offers solace from the harsh realities beyond. It is a retreat to the simplistic innocence of youth, a time when dreams had the power to shield us from the complexities of grown-up anxieties.
The forts between the sofa and the windowsill symbolize the safe spaces we create to nurture our innermost dreams. It is also a stark reminder of how we yearn for a time when we could ‘save ourselves’ from the figurative giants of our lives, pointing to an ingrained desire to reclaim autonomy over our emotional narratives.
Deciphering the Code: Surfacing Buried Emotions
Sawayama’s intimate self-reflection offers a poignant commentary on the internal turmoil linked to suppressed emotions. She declares, ‘The more I keep them all inside, The more they bury me alive.’ Here lies an acknowledgment of the destructive nature of bottling up feelings deemed minor, yet capable of simmering beneath the surface until they erupt.
This confession is raw and unabashed, unraveling the often ignored truth that the emotions we push deep down don’t dissipate but grow roots within us. The song then becomes an anthem for those struggling to give voice to the whirlpools of feelings freighted down by the judgments of others.
Dissecting the Hidden Meaning: Major Impact of ‘Minor Feelings’
The oxymoron nestled within ‘minor feelings’ and ‘majorly breaking me down’ suggests a paradox – the idea that what is trivialized by others actually holds immense power over our psyche. Sawayama is masterful in exposing the dissonance between what society dismisses and the substantial emotional impact these undervalued feelings can have.
It’s a call to recognize and validate the spectrum of emotional experiences, regardless of how insignificant they might seem to others. ‘Minor Feelings’ thus champions a movement towards emotional sincerity and the healing that comes from acknowledging every hue of the human condition.
Echoing the Sentiments: The Impact of Memorable Lines
Sawayama has a knack for crafting lyrics that leave a perennial mark on the listener’s heart. Take ‘All my life, I’ve felt out of place, All my life, I’ve been saving face.’ These lines linger long after the song fades, symbolizing a universal struggle with belonging and the exhausting endeavor to maintain appearances.
These memorable moments within the song are testament to the artist’s ability to strike a chord with audiences, forging a shared sense of understanding among those silently fighting to fit the mold. The lyrical journey of ‘Minor Feelings’ thus provides a mirror for listeners to see their hidden battles reflected and revered.
