This song grapples with overthinking and self-doubt, and recognizes how giving in to these negative thought patterns tend to result in a vicious cycle of never feeling like you’re doing things right. It’s a cycle that most people have gotten stuck in at one point or another, which makes Stokes’ authenticity in this song all the more meaningful. With lyrics like “how much time have I wasted trying to not waste time,” she perfectly captures the helpless feeling of knowing you are in your own way, but not knowing what to do about it.
Sonically, this track has the classic ebb and flow of a jazz composition, with all of the instruments interacting in new ways throughout the song. The vocal melodies meander up and down, taking unpredictable and satisfying turns that are made even more interesting by Stokes’ soulful vocal delivery. The casual intimacy of her singing allows room for both the playful, self-deprecating lyrics and the more vulnerable, pensive lyrics.
The energy of the song rises and falls in perfect harmony with the content of the lyrics, culminating in a hopeful closing where Stokes finds her resolve and decides she doesn’t want to keep falling victim to the cycle of wasting time, singing “I don’t want to be afraid anymore,” and inspiring the listener to do the same.
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