I think this song is about escaping an abusive relationship. One where the controlling partner always "re-wrote" the victimized partner into something they weren't maybe by diminishing them so they felt worthless.
You don't know me (You never knew the real me)
You can't hold me (You can't control me any more)
I'll slip through your hands/I am one single grain of sand (I've escaped, precisely because you made me so small. Small things easily slip away)
You are free to love/Happily received/You are free to love/If that is all you need (I'm letting you go without malice, You are free to find love somewhere else)
The second verse is a real mastery of poetry:
I'm an empty space/I can't be replaced (You tried to make the real me disappear, but emptiness is powerful, it's all around us and can't be replaced by something else)
So when you're finished with this dream/delete, begin to rewrite me (When you're finished fantasizing about what happened, I know you'll re-write me all over again, anyway)
Lots of abusive relationships being written about on this site. I'm gathering you've never been in one...at least not on the receiving end. But ask me how it feels to be used for a frggin' "voice" and used for compassion and kindness....then tossed aside time and time again. Yup, I've been there. And now I'm signing off 'cause I am tired of hearing non-victims claim to be victims. Look in the mirror, Sally Sue; you decided LONG ago you're not worth more than you have at this very moment. And nobody is to blame (or credit) but YOU. Ugh. Goodnight....
Lots of abusive relationships being written about on this site. I'm gathering you've never been in one...at least not on the receiving end. But ask me how it feels to be used for a frggin' "voice" and used for compassion and kindness....then tossed aside time and time again. Yup, I've been there. And now I'm signing off 'cause I am tired of hearing non-victims claim to be victims. Look in the mirror, Sally Sue; you decided LONG ago you're not worth more than you have at this very moment. And nobody is to blame (or credit) but YOU. Ugh. Goodnight.
@Ismelstar I agree with this interpretation.
Except one thing, are we sure the line isn't "I can be replaced"? I don't hear a T, of course even if it is "can't" i'm sure Sia won't be pronouncing the T, but still. I think it makes more sense if the victim is realizing that her part in the relationship can just be replaced by the abuser with a new victim.
@Ismelstar I agree with this interpretation.
Except one thing, are we sure the line isn't "I can be replaced"? I don't hear a T, of course even if it is "can't" i'm sure Sia won't be pronouncing the T, but still. I think it makes more sense if the victim is realizing that her part in the relationship can just be replaced by the abuser with a new victim.
I think this song is about escaping an abusive relationship. One where the controlling partner always "re-wrote" the victimized partner into something they weren't maybe by diminishing them so they felt worthless.
You don't know me (You never knew the real me) You can't hold me (You can't control me any more) I'll slip through your hands/I am one single grain of sand (I've escaped, precisely because you made me so small. Small things easily slip away)
You are free to love/Happily received/You are free to love/If that is all you need (I'm letting you go without malice, You are free to find love somewhere else)
The second verse is a real mastery of poetry: I'm an empty space/I can't be replaced (You tried to make the real me disappear, but emptiness is powerful, it's all around us and can't be replaced by something else) So when you're finished with this dream/delete, begin to rewrite me (When you're finished fantasizing about what happened, I know you'll re-write me all over again, anyway)
Lots of abusive relationships being written about on this site. I'm gathering you've never been in one...at least not on the receiving end. But ask me how it feels to be used for a frggin' "voice" and used for compassion and kindness....then tossed aside time and time again. Yup, I've been there. And now I'm signing off 'cause I am tired of hearing non-victims claim to be victims. Look in the mirror, Sally Sue; you decided LONG ago you're not worth more than you have at this very moment. And nobody is to blame (or credit) but YOU. Ugh. Goodnight....
Lots of abusive relationships being written about on this site. I'm gathering you've never been in one...at least not on the receiving end. But ask me how it feels to be used for a frggin' "voice" and used for compassion and kindness....then tossed aside time and time again. Yup, I've been there. And now I'm signing off 'cause I am tired of hearing non-victims claim to be victims. Look in the mirror, Sally Sue; you decided LONG ago you're not worth more than you have at this very moment. And nobody is to blame (or credit) but YOU. Ugh. Goodnight.
@Ismelstar I agree with this interpretation. Except one thing, are we sure the line isn't "I can be replaced"? I don't hear a T, of course even if it is "can't" i'm sure Sia won't be pronouncing the T, but still. I think it makes more sense if the victim is realizing that her part in the relationship can just be replaced by the abuser with a new victim.
@Ismelstar I agree with this interpretation. Except one thing, are we sure the line isn't "I can be replaced"? I don't hear a T, of course even if it is "can't" i'm sure Sia won't be pronouncing the T, but still. I think it makes more sense if the victim is realizing that her part in the relationship can just be replaced by the abuser with a new victim.