Drifting
Eleni Drake Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

And I don't really know who I am
Going/driving round in circles to find a plan
I know how it feels
To be on the other side

And I don't really understand
Why I was wired different from the same strand
I know how it feels

To be left behind

Rope burns from things I'm hanging on to still
Empty, but I guess that's just how lonely feels
Ash trays pilling on my windowsill
Grey skies crying for a storm that kills

I'm a bad man
And I don't really care for anything
I've lost all I knew
Now I'm losing all the pieces that helped me through

Underwater again
Hold my head underwater for you
I should let go too
And sink inside the blue

Rope burns from things I'm hanging on to still
Empty, but I guess that's just how lonely feels
Ash trays pilling on my windowsill
Grey skies crying for a storm that kills

I feel
Like I'm drifting
Drifting
Through it all

I feel
Like I'm drifting
Drifting
Through it all

Rope burns from things I'm hanging on to still
Empty, but I guess that's just how lonely feels

Ash trays pilling on my windowsill
Grey skies crying for a storm that kills

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Eleni Drake's song Drifting revolve around the universal human experience of feeling lost and alone. The singer laments not knowing who they are, feeling stuck and in circles trying to find a plan or purpose for their life. They express confusion about being different from others who share the same DNA and feeling left behind. The imagery in the song is powerful and visceral. The rope burns from holding on to things that no longer serve the singer's life or purpose, the ashtrays pilling on the windowsill, and the grey skies crying reflect the singer's emotional state of being.

The chorus of the song repeats 'I feel like I'm drifting,' emphasizing the sense of aimlessness the singer is experiencing. The singer acknowledges they are doing nothing to help themselves as they have become a 'bad man' and don't really care for anything. They have lost all that they knew and are now losing the pieces that helped them through tough times. The lines, 'Underwater again, hold my head underwater for you,' suggest a desire to feel something, perhaps pain or comfort-seeking behavior, that has turned destructive.

The song's lyrics convey a sense of despair and isolation, where the singer is floating adrift in their life. Drake's voice captures the emotional turmoil, and the haunting melody of the song adds to its melancholia.

Line by Line Meaning

And I don't really know who I am
Feeling lost and aimless in life, unsure of one's identity.

Going/driving round in circles to find a plan
Repeating the same actions in search of purpose, but ultimately going nowhere.

I know how it feels To be on the other side
Having empathy for others who are struggling and feeling disconnected.

And I don't really understand Why I was wired different from the same strand
Feeling like an outsider and questioning one's place in the world.

I know how it feels To be left behind
Experiencing the pain of being left out or left behind by others.

Rope burns from things I'm hanging on to still
Holding onto things that are causing pain and leaving physical marks as a reminder.

Empty, but I guess that's just how lonely feels
Feeling hollow and alone, with no substance to fill the void.

Ash trays pilling on my windowsill
Using cigarettes as a coping mechanism and letting the remnants pile up in one's personal space.

Grey skies crying for a storm that kills
Feeling as though the bleakness of the world is calling out for a dramatic change, even if it might be destructive.

I'm a bad man
Feeling guilty and ashamed of one's actions or perceived worth as a person.

And I don't really care for anything
Succumbing to depression and apathy, losing interest in things that once brought joy.

I've lost all I knew Now I'm losing all the pieces that helped me through
Having to say goodbye to familiar things and habits that once provided comfort, leading to further sense of loss.

Underwater again
Feeling as though one is suffocating or drowning in the pressures and difficulties of life.

Hold my head underwater for you
Being willing to do anything, even self-destructive things, for the sake of a relationship or another person.

I should let go too And sink inside the blue
Recognizing the need to let go of toxic relationships and behaviours, even if it means descending into a darker place temporarily.

I feel Like I'm drifting Drifting Through it all
Feeling unconnected and uncertain, without a clear direction or purpose in life.

Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Eleni Drake

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS