They Looked Like Strong Hands
Bayside Lyrics

"They Looked Like Strong Hands" by Bayside is a song that highlights the struggle of feeling like an imposter in one's own life. The lyrics suggest that the singer is someone who has been performing confidently, pushing themselves onto stages and into stereos, yet they are riddled with self-doubt. They are trying to prove themselves to people they don't know, seeking approval from those who are not important to them. The singer is questioning the authenticity of their own identity, wondering if the person they are presenting to the world is truly who they are.

The line "Not admitting I'm fake" suggests that the singer is aware that they are not presenting their true self to the world. They are questioning whether the sacrifices they have made to pursue their dream of being a performer are worth it. They wonder if they will ultimately end up dying poor and alone, without having lived a life true to themselves. The line "Do I mean what I say? Is it just this disease where I never go home" implies that the singer feels trapped in a cycle of performance and is questioning whether they are capable of being honest with themselves or with others.

Ultimately, the song is a commentary on the pressure to perform and achieve success at the cost of one's authentic self. The repeated lines "And I look so strong / When the weight of all the world / Don't take its toll / And I'd choose my sides / If I believed in what was right / But I'm all wrong" illustrate the conflict between the singer's appearance of success and their internal struggle.