Selfish
Anna Akana Lyrics


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It broke my heart when my baby sis stepped off the toy chest
I know I could never follow in her footsteps
But sometimes I can′t help but wonder what if
If I gave in to darkness and did something that selfish

Some days I wanna be selfish
Some days I wanna be selfish
When I'm so tired of feeling helpless
Some days I wanna be selfish

It broke my heart when I realized the problem was me
Had everything I wanted but still wasn′t happy
And sometimes I can't stop but wonder what if
If I gave in to illness and did something that selfish

Some days I wanna be selfish
Some days I wanna be selfish




When I'm so tired of feeling helpless
Some days I wanna be selfish

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Anna Akana's song Selfish reflect on the struggle of fighting against one's own negative thoughts and emotions. The song begins with the heartbreaking image of the singer's younger sister stepping off a toy chest, possibly referring to a suicide attempt. The singer expresses the desire to escape from the pain and uncertainty of life by giving in to the darkness and doing something that could be seen as selfish - possibly referring to contemplating suicide. The singer admits that while she could never follow in her sister's footsteps, she can't help but wonder what may happen if she did.


The second verse reveals that the singer herself is struggling with unhappiness, despite having everything she ever wanted. She questions the possibility of giving in to illness and doing something selfish, possibly referring to her own mental health struggles. The chorus repeats the desire to be selfish, indicating that some days the singer needs to focus on her own needs and take care of herself, even if it feels like a selfish act.


Overall, the song Selfish reflects on the complex emotions and struggles that come with mental health issues, and the internal conflict between the desire to put one's own needs first and the fear and guilt associated with doing so.


Line by Line Meaning

It broke my heart when my baby sis stepped off the toy chest
I was devastated when I witnessed the tragic loss of my sister, which made me aware of the fragility of our existence.


I know I could never follow in her footsteps
I understand that I have a unique path in life and cannot compare my journey to that of anyone else, including my sister.


But sometimes I can't help but wonder what if
Occasionally, I contemplate alternative outcomes and what my life would be like if I had made different choices.


If I gave in to darkness and did something that selfish
In moments of weakness, I consider the possibility of resorting to harmful behavior for my own benefit, regardless of the consequences for others.


Some days I wanna be selfish
I have moments where I desire to prioritize my own wants and needs above the desires of others.


When I'm so tired of feeling helpless
When I reach a point of exhaustion from feeling powerless to effect change or progress, my inclination towards selfishness intensifies.


It broke my heart when I realized the problem was me
I was devastated to discover that my lack of fulfillment and happiness stemmed from my own behavior and thoughts rather than external forces.


Had everything I wanted but still wasn't happy
Despite obtaining the things I thought would bring me joy and satisfaction, I found myself still unfulfilled and longing for more.


And sometimes I can't stop but wonder what if
Occasionally, I find myself fixating on the possibility of different outcomes and how my life could be different if I had made alternative choices.


If I gave in to illness and did something that selfish
When I am struggling with my mental or physical health, I am more prone to considering destructive behavior that only benefits me, even if it hurts others.


Some days I wanna be selfish
I experience days where I feel a strong urge to prioritize my own well-being over the wants and needs of those around me.


When I'm so tired of feeling helpless
My desire for selfishness intensifies when I feel powerless and helpless to impact change in my life or the lives of those around me.




Contributed by Alex P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@MichieCuddlesASMR

Whenever Anna does something deep and creative that touches on mental health, I always think of her sister and how much that's affected her in the way she perceives the world.

On a similar note. Sending all my love and strength to whoever out there is reading this and needs that little extra support. You can get through this. 💜

@harrymayhow5993

Yeah, it reminds me of her sister too! And thank you for the support. Damn, kindness of strangers.

@MichieCuddlesASMR

Harry Mayfield Howson 😘♥️

@BoMwarriorVlog

May we all help others #ChooseToStay 🙏

@dazzlinggene

MichieCuddles ASMR 💜🥰🥰

@leah2799

i’m crying. i’ve been suicidal on and off for years but hearing you talk about your sister and how much you think about her has made me realize that i never want to put my sister or anyone else through that. so i’m still here.

@aashni23

you can get through this! Sending you so much love. Look how strong you've been all this time, you can do it ❤

@adilah1000

<3

@BoMwarriorVlog

Leah, I'm glad you #ChoseToStay ❤ https://youtu.be/RPhCJaBqh74

@evolu5144

You are meant to be here. There are so many who you can help and so many who can help you get to a place where you realize how truly valued and needed you are 💗 Give yourself time

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