I strongly believe that this song is about shyness/anxiety and how she copes with it, being on stage and all.
I personally know how this feels, especially a few years ago when my shyness and isolation was at it's worst.
"All my life
I've been fighting a war.."
It literally feels like you're fighting a war every time you have to step outside and put on that mask of confidence.
"...I can't talk
to you or your friends.
It's not only you.."
It's not just this person she possibly likes that she can't talk to, it's every one around her.
"My heart jumps around when I'm alluded to.."
I remember, when I was painfully shy if I even heard my name from someone my anxiety would kick in.
"This will not do."
After a while, it becomes impossible to live this way. You can't avoid everyone forever and it just simply will not do, to not talk to anyone, or to be incredibly anxious while doing so.
"Cause I was raised up
to be admired
to be noticed..."
Everyone, regardless of if you're a singer, or famous, etc, has been told since a young age that must be well liked, and that shyness is looked down upon. You can't be shy, you must be admired, and you must be noticed. Only, when you're shy, being noticed is the last thing you want.
"But when you're WITHDRAWN
it's the closest thing
to ASSAULT when all eyes are on you
this will not do"
Having anxiety will make you feel like you're going to die when you have to get up in front of people, when everyone's looking at you. You're so afraid of their judgement and harsh words it's hard to do anything but want to cry.
I strongly believe that this song is about shyness/anxiety and how she copes with it, being on stage and all.
I personally know how this feels, especially a few years ago when my shyness and isolation was at it's worst. "All my life I've been fighting a war.." It literally feels like you're fighting a war every time you have to step outside and put on that mask of confidence. "...I can't talk to you or your friends. It's not only you.." It's not just this person she possibly likes that she can't talk to, it's every one around her. "My heart jumps around when I'm alluded to.." I remember, when I was painfully shy if I even heard my name from someone my anxiety would kick in. "This will not do." After a while, it becomes impossible to live this way. You can't avoid everyone forever and it just simply will not do, to not talk to anyone, or to be incredibly anxious while doing so. "Cause I was raised up to be admired to be noticed..." Everyone, regardless of if you're a singer, or famous, etc, has been told since a young age that must be well liked, and that shyness is looked down upon. You can't be shy, you must be admired, and you must be noticed. Only, when you're shy, being noticed is the last thing you want. "But when you're WITHDRAWN it's the closest thing to ASSAULT when all eyes are on you this will not do" Having anxiety will make you feel like you're going to die when you have to get up in front of people, when everyone's looking at you. You're so afraid of their judgement and harsh words it's hard to do anything but want to cry.