Nobody by Mac DeMarco Lyrics Meaning – A Dive Into Existential Reflection
Lyrics
A done decision
Another creature
Who’s lost its vision
Let it go
Reel it in
For the creature
On television
There’s no turning back
To nobody
There’s no second chance
No third degree
I’m a fixture
A split decision
A pretty picture
A superstition
Let it go
Cash it in
For the creature
On television
There’s no turning back
To nobody
There’s no second chance
No third degree
There’s no turning back
To nobody
There’s no second chance
No third degree
The song ‘Nobody’ by Mac DeMarco, released in 2019, washes over listeners like an enigmatic dream that dances on the edges of existential angst. With its haunting melody and reflective lyrics, DeMarco plunges into a pool of self-examination, confronting the universal human condition of seeking purpose and identity.
The track, which is part of his album ‘Here Comes the Cowboy,’ presents a delicate balance between DeMarco’s characteristic laid-back sound and deeper, more solemn themes. By peeling back the curtain of this cryptic piece, we can venture into the philosophical crevices DeMarco subtly nudges us towards.
A Lonely Preacher in the Digital Age
DeMarco introduces us to a ‘preacher,’ a symbol for someone seeking to impart wisdom or guidance. Yet this preacher has stumbled, ‘a done decision,’ an indication of a definitive ending and an irreversible path taken. The creature ‘who’s lost its vision’ further embodies the sense of disorientation that comes with realizing one’s message or purpose is no longer clear or perhaps, no longer relevant.
Through this profound opening, DeMarco raises questions about the value and reception of one’s voice in a society increasingly governed by the glow of ‘television’—a metaphor for the media and the digital world at large. How does one reconcile their place in a world that seems to value superficiality over substance?
Embracing the Inevitability of Obscurity
‘There’s no turning back to nobody,’ DeMarco serenades in the chorus. These lines wrestle with the concept of fading into anonymity, a fate that awaits most of us. The repetition of ‘nobody’ drills into the listener the humbling realization that, despite our efforts, there may not be a legacy or ‘second chance’ for the masses to redeem themselves or alter their paths.
In reflecting on the chorus, one can’t help but feel a twinge of the existential dread that comes with contemplating one’s own significance—or the lack thereof—in the grander scheme. DeMarco’s chorus acts like a siren’s call to accept the inevitable rather than fight against the current of time and obscurity.
The Duality of the Artist’s Psyche
In describing himself as both ‘a fixture’ and ‘a pretty picture,’ DeMarco touches on the dual nature of being an artist—both constant and ephemeral. Artists often serve as fixtures in the cultural landscape, influencing thought and aesthetic. Yet, they also risk becoming ‘a split decision,’ a momentary reference in the ever-shifting dialogue of popular culture.
‘A superstition’ can also be perceived as a nod to the mystical aspect of creativity that some view as magic, while others regard as mere flights of fancy without foundation. Here, DeMarco seems to acknowledge the tension that artists wrestle with, balancing the need for artistic expression with the skepticism of its value in a world that often prefers tangible outcomes.
The Haunting Echo of Memorable Lines
Throughout ‘Nobody,’ Mac DeMarco crafts verses that linger in the consciousness like poems yearning for understanding. When he croons, ‘Let it go, reel it in,’ there is a sense of contradiction—a push and pull between relinquishing control and yet desperately trying to hold onto something just out of reach.
It’s as if DeMarco is conversing with himself, and by extension the listener, coaxing to release the constructs we cling to while simultaneously understanding the intense desire to grasp onto identity, however fleeting it may be. These lines beguile us to ponder our own contradictions and the elusive nature of fulfillment.
The Enigmatic Undertone of Television
DeMarco’s allusion to ‘the creature on television’ recurs as a haunting reminder of the manufactured and performative aspects of the personas we digest through media. In the refrain of selling oneself, ‘Cash it in,’ DeMarco invokes the transactional nature of fame and how it often demands the sacrifice of authenticity for the allure of visibility.
This veiled criticism of the entertainment industry, where individuals become commodities, compels the audience to consider the implications of a society enamored with an endless stream of content. DeMarco’s succinct repetition of this metaphorical creature weaves a cautionary tale about the erosion of individuality amidst the spectacle.
