WHY by NF Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Layers of Self-Inquiry and Struggle for Authenticity

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for NF's WHY at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

Too many faces, too many faces, too many faces

Yeah, what’s your definition of success? (ay)
I don’t trust the thoughts that come inside my head (woo)
I don’t trust this thing that beats inside my chest
Who I am and who I wanna be cannot connect, why?
Don’t think I deserve it? You get no respect (woo)
I just made a couple mil’, still not impressed
Let You Down goes triple platinum, yeah, okay, okay, I guess (ay)
Smile for a moment then these questions startin’ to fill my head, not again!
I push away the people that I love the most, why? (woo)
I don’t want no one to know I’m vulnerable, why? (woo)
That makes me feel weak and so uncomfortable, why? (ay)
Stop askin’ me questions, I just wanna feel alive
Until I die, this isn’t Nate’s flow (woo)
Just let me rhyme, I’m in disguise
I’m a busy person, got no time for lies, one of a kind
They don’t see it, I pull out they eyes, I’m on the rise!
I’ve been doin’ this for most my life with no advice (woo)
Take my chances, I just roll the dice, do what I like
As a kid, I was afraid of heights, put that aside
Now I’m here and they look so surprised, well so am I, woo!
They don’t invite me to the parties but I still arrive
Kick down the door and then I go inside
Give off that “I do not belong here” vibe
Then take the keys right off the counter, let’s go for a ride
Why do y’all look mortified? (ay)
I keep to myself, they think I’m sorta shy, organized
Let You Down’s the only song you’ve heard of? Well then you’re behind (woo)
Story time, wish that I could think like Big Sean does, but I just can’t decide (aah)
If I should stick my knife inside of Pennywise
I, I don’t care what anybody else thinks, lies (haha)
I do not need nobody to help me, lies
I kinda feel guilty ’cause I’m wealthy, why?
I don’t understand, it’s got me questionin’ like, “Why?
Just tell me why, not back to this flow
Inside I feel divided
Back when I ain’t had a dime, but had the drive
Back before I ever signed, I questioned life, like, “Who am I, man?” Woo!
Nothin’ to me’s ever good enough
I could be workin’ for twenty-four hours a day and think I never did enough
My life is a movie but there ain’t no tellin’ what you’re gonna see in my cinema (no)
I wanna be great but I get it in the way of myself
And I think about everything that I could never be
Why do I do it though? Ay, yeah
Why you always lookin’ aggravated?
Not a choice, you know I had to make it
When they talk about the greatest, they gon’ probably never put us in the conversation
Like somethin’ then I gotta take it
Write somethin’ then I might erase it
I love it, then I really hate it
What’s the problem, Nathan? I don’t know
I know I like to preach to always be yourself (yeah)
But my emotions make me feel like I am someone else
Me and pride had made a pact that we don’t need no help
Which feels like I’m at war inside myself but I forgot the shells
I hold my issues up for all to see, like show and tell
A lot of people know me, but not a lot know me well
Hold my issues up for all to see, like show and tell
A lot of people know me, but they don’t know me well

Too many faces, too many faces, too many faces

In the sphere of music that relentlessly scrutinizes the glitter and gold of success, NF’s introspective track ‘WHY’ stands as a stark introspection of the demons that haunt the victorious. The lyrics wield a double-edged sword, slicing through the facade of fame to expose the internal conflicts of an artist entangled in a fight between personal truth and public perception.

NF, known for his raw lyrical vulnerability and cinematic beats, constructs ‘WHY’ as a confessional booth of his psyche. It is a canvas where he paints the paradox of his life with dark hues of doubt, fear, and the relentless quest for meaning in a seemingly triumphant existence.

Behind the Mask of Success: NF’s Confrontation with Fame

At first glance, ‘WHY’ pulsates with the heartbeat of triumph—platinum hits and millions in the bank. But NF peels back the veneer to reveal the emptiness that can accompany such achievements. The lyrics are a testament to the artist’s grapple with the hollowness that can lurk behind the mask of success, questioning the price paid in the pursuit of artistic excellence and public acclaim.

As he juxtaposes his acknowledged hits with a feeling of dissatisfaction, NF captures a widespread sentiment in both the music industry and beyond: the sense that no amount of external validation can satiate the internal appetite for a deeper, more personal success.

The Scenic Route to Self-Acceptance – NF’s Labyrinth of Identity

‘Who I am and who I wanna be cannot connect, why?’ This line stands out as a chilling echo of insecurity and confusion. NF boldly confronts his own reflection, attempting to understand the dissonance between the person he presents and the person he feels he truly is.

It’s a battle cry that resonates with many, reflecting the internal struggle of reconciling personal aspirations with the reality of self-imposed and societal expectations. This line alone demonstrates NF’s potent ability to capture the zeitgeist of contemporary identity crises.

Artistic Isolation – NF’s Counterintuitive Anthem for Individuality

The lines, ‘I push away the people that I love the most, why?’ and ‘Don’t want no one to know I’m vulnerable, why?’ illustrate a human paradox—the more we care, the more we tend to barricade our hearts. NF doesn’t deliver answers; instead, he’s sparking conversations about the often-isolating journey of maintaining authenticity in a world that rewards conformism.

His aversion to vulnerability isn’t framed as a simple character trait but is laid bare as a survival mechanism on the turbulent seas of fame. Herein lies the song’s universal appeal—a mirror that reflects the listener’s own insecurities about openness and the desire to be understood.

The Haunting Inquisition – NF’s Relentless Search for Purpose

The sheer repetition of ‘why’ throughout the track is haunting—a siren call that beckons listeners into NF’s introspective odyssey. It’s not merely a word but a lodestar guiding the journey through a swathe of self-doubt and existential angst.

Unlike many tracks that resolve their thematic questions with tidy conclusions, ‘WHY’ leaves us with a sense of incompletion. It suggests that some questions, especially those concerning our deepest fears and desires, linger long past the final notes of a song.

Decoding the Symphony of Shadows – The Hidden Meaning of ‘WHY’

Beneath the surface of NF’s striking confessionals about wealth and disengagement, lies the song’s hidden meaning—a plea for authenticity in an often disingenuous world. ‘I just wanna feel alive,’ NF declares, a statement that transcends personal narrative to touch upon a collective human yearning for experiences that cut through the noise of existence.

The track frames success not as an endpoint but as a catalyst for deeper self-exploration. It’s an invitation to the audience to take stock of their own lives, question the definitions of success imposed upon them, and to seek out a path that aligns more closely with their truest selves.