By 2017, several of Cutler's songs (including "Your Shirt") garnered numerous streams and led to collaborations that year with acts like Louis The Child ("Slow Down Love"), ayokay ("The Shine"), Kidswaste ("Tonight"), and Kasbo ("Found You"). She signed a record deal with Ultra Records in late 2017 and released her first EP, "Snow In October". After touring with Quinn XCII in early 2018, Cutler released two independent mixtapes, "Sleeping With Roses" and "Sleeping With Roses II." She also went on her first two nationwide headlining tours in support of each mixtape, both of which sold out in advance.
In March 2019, she signed to Republic Records and released a joint EP, "brent", with friend and label-mate Jeremy Zucker shortly after. The EP features the single "you were good to me", which they performed live on The Today Show. It was also pressed on a limited edition white vinyl through the retailer Urban Outfitters. It was limited to a run of 1000 copies pressed. In May 2019, Cutler collaborated with Kygo on the single, "Not OK". It became her third collaboration (after "Slow Down Love" and "The Shine") to appear on the Billboard Dance/Electronic Songs chart, peaking at number 9.
In late 2019, Cutler began releasing new singles, including "How To Be Human" and "Lucky" (featuring Alexander 23). Along with "Sad Tonight", the songs served as the primary singles for her debut studio album, How To Be Human, released on January 17, 2020 by Republic Records. On January 23, 2020 she performed the lead single, "Sad Tonight", on Late Night With Seth Meyers. That song became Cutler's first entry on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 airplay chart, peaking at number 32 in March 2020. In April 2020, she was featured alongside Quinn XCII on the Louis The Child track, "Little Things".
Cutler was also slated to perform at Coachella 2020, which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In June 2020, she released a version of her song "Crazier Things" which features Noah Kahan.
For music, videos, tour dates, & merch head to: https://www.chelseacutler.com/
the lifeboat's empty!
Chelsea Cutler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I poured myself into you and you let me
Then say you're overwhelmed and you resent me
'Cause you don't know how to let somebody down gently
Do you?
Never got what I needed
And my love has a ceiling
Ooh, you want something that I can't give anymore
Ooh, I can't go back to the way things were before
After
I'm the one who breathes the smoke from your disaster
Then you say it's my fault my heart's beating faster
And you ask me how I'm feeling like it matters
To you
Never got what I needed
And my love has a ceiling
Nothing left to believe in, no
Ooh, you want something that I can't give anymore
Ooh, I can't go back to the way things were before
And I can't breathe down here, when did we get so heavy?
Tell me why we're drowning still when the lifeboat's empty
Ooh, you want something that I can't give anymore
Ooh, I can't go back to the way things were before
And I can't breathe down here, when did we get so heavy?
Tell me why we're drowning still when the lifeboat's empty
In "the lifeboat's empty!" by Chelsea Cutler, the lyrics delve into a relationship that has become strained and unfulfilling. The opening lines portray the singer's deep investment in their partner and how it went unreciprocated. They express feeling overwhelmed and resented by their partner's inability to let them down gently. The lyrics suggest that the partner lacks the understanding of how to end the relationship with empathy. This inability to communicate effectively contributes to the deteriorating connection between them.
The theme of unfulfillment continues as the singer reflects on never receiving what they needed from the relationship. Their love is depicted as having a ceiling, indicating that it can only go so far and cannot progress any further. This sentiment is emphasized when the lyrics state, "Nothing left to believe in." It suggests a loss of hope and a realization that the relationship has reached its maximum potential.
As the song progresses, the singer addresses the aftermath of the relationship, taking on the responsibility of dealing with the consequences of their partner's actions. They highlight how their partner blames them for the increased heartache they are experiencing, further exacerbating the pain. The lyrics express how their partner asks about their feelings as if it matters, but it seems insincere and self-serving. This highlights the lack of empathy and understanding from the partner's perspective.
The chorus of the song touches on the singer's realization of their inability to meet their partner's desires any longer. They acknowledge that they cannot go back to the way things were before, indicating that the relationship has fundamentally changed. The imagery of the lifeboat being empty suggests that there is no hope for rescue or salvation in this relationship. Despite this, both individuals remain trapped, drowning in their emotional turmoil.
In the final lines, the singer questions why they are still drowning in the relationship when there is no lifeboat available. They express confusion and ask when the relationship became so burdensome and suffocating. The repetition of the line, "I can't breathe down here," further emphasizes their feelings of being trapped and unable to escape the toxicity of the relationship. The lyrics ultimately leave the listener contemplating why they remain in this situation, unable to find a way out despite the absence of any means of rescue.
Line by Line Meaning
Empty
I invested my whole self in you, but you rejected me and made me feel insignificant.
I poured myself into you and you let me
I gave all my love and energy to you, but you allowed me to be drained without reciprocating.
Then say you're overwhelmed and you resent me
Then you claim to be burdened and hold resentment towards me.
'Cause you don't know how to let somebody down gently
Because you lack the ability to gently reject and let go of someone.
Do you?
Do you understand the impact your actions have on me?
Never got what I needed
I never received the emotional fulfillment I desired.
And my love has a ceiling
My love for you has a limit, a point at which it can no longer grow.
Nothing left to believe in, no
I have lost faith in our relationship, with nothing remaining to hold onto.
Ooh, you want something that I can't give anymore
You desire something from me that I am no longer capable of providing.
Ooh, I can't go back to the way things were before
I cannot return to the past when our relationship was different and better.
After
Despite everything that has happened between us,
I'm the one who breathes the smoke from your disaster
I am the one who suffers the consequences of your mistakes and chaos.
Then you say it's my fault my heart's beating faster
Then you blame me for the anxiety and fear that you cause within me.
And you ask me how I'm feeling like it matters
And you inquire about my emotions, pretending to care when it holds no significance to you.
To you
To you, my feelings are inconsequential and unimportant.
And I can't breathe down here, when did we get so heavy?
I feel suffocated in this relationship. When did it become so burdensome and oppressive?
Tell me why we're drowning still when the lifeboat's empty
Explain to me why we are still sinking and struggling even though there is no help or support available anymore.
Tell me why we're drowning still when the lifeboat's empty
Explain to me why we are still sinking and struggling even though there is no help or support available anymore.
Ooh, you want something that I can't give anymore
You desire something from me that I am no longer capable of providing.
Ooh, I can't go back to the way things were before
I cannot return to the past when our relationship was different and better.
And I can't breathe down here, when did we get so heavy?
I feel suffocated in this relationship. When did it become so burdensome and oppressive?
Tell me why we're drowning still when the lifeboat's empty
Explain to me why we are still sinking and struggling even though there is no help or support available anymore.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Chelsea Emily Cutler, Alexander O'Neill, Mikael Temrowski, Thomas Michel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cj Wix
LYRICS‼️ 💜
Empty
I poured myself into you and you let me
Then say you're overwhelmed and you resent me
Cause you don't know how to let somebody down gently, do you
Never got what I needed
And my love has a ceiling
Nothing left to believe in, no
Ooo you want something that I can't give anymore
Ooo I can't go back to the way things were before
After
I'm the one who breathes the smoke from your disaster
Then you say it's my fault my heart's beating faster
And you ask me how I'm feeling like it matters, to you
Never got what I needed
And my love has a ceiling
Nothing left to believe in, no
Ooo you want something that I can't give anymore
Ooo I can't go back to the way things were before
And I can't breathe down here, when did we get so heavy
Tell me why we're drowning still when the lifeboat's empty
Ooo you want something that I can't give anymore
Ooo I can't go back to the way things were before
And I can't breathe down here, when did we get so heavy
Tell me why we're drowning still when the lifeboat's empty
CATORITO
Chelsea's music just has a way to resonate with my soul.
Jeffrey Thornton
Can’t wait to think about my ex while listening bestie!
Judith Dani
🤣🤣🤣🤣
ed3bn
Hahaha...
Byte Sized KidGamer
same, we just broke last month and shes got someone new now haha
Alex Hutchison
Yup
Jess Abao
You can dance to this song while being sad.
Kimew
Its a song for "dancing it out" if you know what i mean.
Kristen Shaver
I definitely have a few times.
It's Yah Boi
So true