Persona
BTS (방탄소년단) MAP OF THE SOUL Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I have this thing where I get older, but just never wiser
Midnights become my afternoons
When my depression works the graveyard shift
All of the people I′ve ghosted stand there in the room

I should not be left to my own devices
They come with prices and vices
I end up in crises
Tale as old as time
I wake up screaming from dreaming
One day I'll watch as you′re leaving
'Cause you got tired of my scheming
For the last time

It's me
Hi!
I′m the problem, it′s me
At teatime
Everybody agrees
I'll stare directly at the sun, but never in the mirror
It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero

Sometimes I feel like everybody is a sexy baby
And I′m a monster on the hill
Too big to hang out
Slowly lurching toward your favorite city
Pierced through the heart but never killed

Did you hear my covert narcissism
I disguise as altruism?
Like some kind of congressman
Tale as old as time
I wake up screaming from dreaming
One day, I'll watch as you′re leaving
And life will lose all its meaning
For the last time

It's me
Hi!
I′m the problem, it's me (I'm the problem, it′s me)
At teatime
Everybody agrees
I′ll stare directly at the sun, but never in the mirror
It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero

I have this dream my daughter-in-law kills me for the money
She thinks I left them in the will
The family gathers 'round and reads it
And then someone screams out
"She′s laughing up at us from hell!"

It's me
Hi!
I′m the problem, it's me
It′s me
Hi!
I'm the problem, it's me

It′s me
Hi!
Everybody agrees
Everybody agrees

It′s me
Hi! (Hi!)
I'm the problem, it′s me (I'm the problem, it′s me)
At teatime
Everybody agrees (everybody agrees)




I'll stare directly at the sun, but never in the mirror
It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Persona delve into the concept of self-awareness and acceptance. BTS member RM, who wrote the lyrics, talks about his struggles with mental health and how it affects his relationships. He admits that he has often let people down and ghosted them. He feels that he is the problem and that his depression takes over his life, making him feel like he is not getting wiser with age. The words "It's me, I'm the problem" stand out in the song, as he takes ownership of his issues and tries to come to terms with them.


RM also touches upon the concept of covert narcissism when he talks about how he disguises his selfishness as altruism. His self-destructive tendencies have led to several crises, and it is a vicious cycle that he finds hard to break. He acknowledges that it must be exhausting to always be rooting for the anti-hero, to be the one who always messes things up. The dream sequence of his daughter-in-law killing him for the money seems like a metaphor for how he knows his actions can sometimes make people turn on him.


Line by Line Meaning

I have this thing where I get older, but just never wiser
Despite my age, I don't seem to gain much wisdom.


Midnights become my afternoons
My sleep schedule is off due to my depression.


When my depression works the graveyard shift
My depression is worse at night.


All of the people I've ghosted stand there in the room
I have hurt and abandoned many people in my life, and they haunt me.


I should not be left to my own devices
Being left alone can lead me to making destructive choices.


They come with prices and vices
The choices I make have consequences and can lead to bad habits.


I end up in crises
My choices can lead to disastrous situations.


Tale as old as time
This pattern of behavior is not new.


I wake up screaming from dreaming
My nightmares are intense and cause me distress.


One day I'll watch as you're leaving
I fear being abandoned by those who are close to me.


'Cause you got tired of my scheming
My manipulative tendencies can push people away.


For the last time
I don't want to continue hurting people or myself.


It's me Hi! I'm the problem, it's me
I am the cause of my own issues and need to take responsibility.


At teatime Everybody agrees
Others are aware of my flaws and problems.


I'll stare directly at the sun, but never in the mirror
I avoid looking at myself and confronting my own issues.


It must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero
My self-destructive tendencies can be draining for myself and those around me.


Sometimes I feel like everybody is a sexy baby
I feel detached from others and struggle with connecting.


And I'm a monster on the hill
I feel like an outsider or someone to be feared.


Too big to hang out Slowly lurching toward your favorite city
I feel out of place and like I don't fit in anywhere.


Pierced through the heart but never killed
Despite my struggles, I am still alive and fighting.


Did you hear my covert narcissism I disguise as altruism?
I struggle with having self-centered motives even when attempting to do good for others.


Like some kind of congressman Tale as old as time
This struggle with power dynamics and control is a common issue.


And life will lose all its meaning For the last time
Continuing down this path will only lead to more pain and suffering.


I have this dream my daughter-in-law kills me for the money She thinks I left them in the will The family gathers 'round and reads it And then someone screams out 'She's laughing up at us from hell!'
Even in my dreams, I am haunted by thoughts of being disliked and betrayed by those close to me.


Everybody agrees
Others can see my problems clearly, even if I struggle to acknowledge them myself.




Writer(s): Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff

Contributed by Savannah L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@yeontanzeomma

Fandom Hug to all the armys who worked hard for 100M

@army_bangtan_forever_7

Yeah.... Fandom hug

@anelsanchez4556

Después de 4 años jajajaja que vergüenza con RM

@AgustD_JK

Yeah

@reanababan

😭😭😭😭

@vienkim9181

we love our president Namjoon!

26 More Replies...

@katiagarcia6597

100M for Namjoon! We did it! 🎉 Congratulations Joon! 👏 💜

@TreeTree6501

We worked hard!

@jeonjoojookok3399

No emojis please

@jeonjoojookok3399

.......

More Comments

More Versions