One of my favorite things to do is to analyze music – if you look at some of my older posts, I had used this tumblr to do that for a bit, but I am always looking for inspiring music to work out to, creating playlists for races, etc.
Recently I downloaded Lindsay Pavao’s version of Part of Me (originally performed by Katy Perry). Her performance on The Voice was amazing, and I have been listening to the song for a few days, but when I was at the gym tonight, I really listened to the lyrics and understand why Lindsay chose the song and how it actually meant a lot more. I had heard the song before, and liked it, but didn’t really understand it completely, below is my examination of the song and what it meant!
Days like this I want to drive away
Pack my bags and watch your shadow fade
You chewed me up and spit me out
Like I was poison in your mouth
You took my light, you drained me down
That was then and this is now
Now look at me
While I was working out, I was really thinking about this verse the most. Having experienced bullying when growing up, I often victimized myself too much in the process, and yes, bullying is not right, but there are certain points in our life we have to take control of our own lives and move beyond that, arise, and become something – I think that is partially what this entire song is about, but it also about proving the “system” wrong – that despite the odds, we can prevail.
This is the part of me that you’re never gonna ever take away from me, no
This is the part of me that you’re never gonna ever take away from me, no
Throw your sticks and stones
Throw your bombs and your blows
But you’re not gonna break my soul
This is the part of me that you’re never gonna ever take away from me, no
This follows along with the first verse. My perceptions of HS have never been overly positive, but I think as I gain confidence, I care less about those moments in my life where I felt less than, as I gain other types of strength, the past is easier to let go of, and become my own person. It’s about creating a person, that is impermeable to those moments where others treat you less than, turning it into energy for yourself – because at the end of the day, that is what is important.
I just wanna throw my phone away
Find out who is really there for me
You ripped me off, your love was cheap
Was always tearing at the seams
I fell deep and you let me drown
But that was then and this is now
Now look at me
Although the intention of this verse is meant for a partner or relationship, I viewed this very internally and self-reflective. Especially the lyric “I fell deep and you let me drown” – it’s a bit intense, but it seems like for so long in life, I allowed myself to make unhealthy choices that affected my weight and my self-confidence – and the “but that was then and this is now”, is such a vindicating line!
This is the part of me that you’re never gonna ever take away from me, no
This is the part of me that you’re never gonna ever take away from me, no
Throw your sticks and stone
Throw your bombs and your blows
But you’re not gonna break my soul
This is the part of me that you’re never gonna ever take away from me, no
Now look at me, I’m sparkling
A firework, a dancing flame
You won’t ever put me out again
I’m glowing, oh woah oh
So you can keep the diamond ring
It don’t mean nothing anyway
In fact you can keep everything
Yeah, yeah
Except for me
Just an extension of the last verse. Again, I don’t think the song was meant to be a self-envisioned lyric, but sometimes, as our own worse enemies. “In fact you can keep everything, except for me”, is the shedding of an old lifestyle, that at our core, we can become who we want to be, it’s that potential energy, and that you can leave the old you behind and transform.
This is the part of me that you’re never gonna ever take away from me, no
This is the part of me that you’re never gonna ever take away from me, no (away from me)
Throw your sticks and stones
Throw your bombs and your blows
But you’re not gonna break my soul
This is the part of me that you’re never gonna ever take away from me, no
This is the part of me, no, (away from me)
This is the part of me, me, me, me, me, me, no
Throw your sticks and stones
Throw your bombs and your blows
But you’re not gonna break my soul
This is the part of me that you’re never gonna ever take away from me, no
I really fell in love with the song tonight. I listened to it about 15 times while at the gym, and just kept really thinking about what it meant and how even the title “part of me” describes a piece of ourselves that we change, alter, and fashion for the better. The song transcends the negative aspects of that “part” and takes it back for something positive.
These are just my thoughts, music is to each their own!
