Yes, this song is about Sarah’s sister taking her own life. But it’s a lot deeper than that. Sarah’s sister, Rebecca, battled with depression for a good portion of her life. Part of her depression was rooted in her struggle with “the inner critic”, the internal voice known for judging & demeaning the self. It’s very common in people who suffer from major depression. The Destroyer is the most harmful of all of the inner critics & does exactly what it’s named after: destroying self-worth, shaming the person, & even convincing them that they don’t deserve to exist. I think Rebecca fought this demon day in & day out, & finally woke up one day & just couldn’t do it anymore. The song outlines that she was finally trying to quiet “ALL of the voices” that were telling her over & over that she wasn’t deserving of having a life, let alone a good life. To quiet the Destroyer, she needed to be “alone” & unfortunately, she thought she could only do that by taking her life. It’s incredibly tragic. But what Sarah did with both her & her sister’s pain, this song, it’s beautiful. And anyone who has struggled with depression, suicidal tendencies, & a harsh inner critic (like myself) can fully relate. It’s one of my favorite Phantogram songs, even though it’s one of the most heartbreaking songs I’ve ever heard.
Yes, this song is about Sarah’s sister taking her own life. But it’s a lot deeper than that. Sarah’s sister, Rebecca, battled with depression for a good portion of her life. Part of her depression was rooted in her struggle with “the inner critic”, the internal voice known for judging & demeaning the self. It’s very common in people who suffer from major depression. The Destroyer is the most harmful of all of the inner critics & does exactly what it’s named after: destroying self-worth, shaming the person, & even convincing them that they don’t deserve to exist. I think Rebecca fought this demon day in & day out, & finally woke up one day & just couldn’t do it anymore. The song outlines that she was finally trying to quiet “ALL of the voices” that were telling her over & over that she wasn’t deserving of having a life, let alone a good life. To quiet the Destroyer, she needed to be “alone” & unfortunately, she thought she could only do that by taking her life. It’s incredibly tragic. But what Sarah did with both her & her sister’s pain, this song, it’s beautiful. And anyone who has struggled with depression, suicidal tendencies, & a harsh inner critic (like myself) can fully relate. It’s one of my favorite Phantogram songs, even though it’s one of the most heartbreaking songs I’ve ever heard.