Icon
Empress Of Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

If I wasn't awake I'd be dreaming
I took too many pills to be sleeping
And the memory of you keeps on creeping
Up my slippery spine all this evening
Take my hand in your hand
Like we're walking
On the pebbley sand
And we're talking
Drive me up to the coast
Lay my seabag
But I'm just in a room with the lights on
Every minute pisses like an hour
When I'm just in a room
With the lights on
And there's no one who knows
I'm their Icon
All that keeps me awake
Is the lights on
And there's no one who knows
I'm their Icon
The first line of the night
Cuts the deepest
Then I'm struggling to
Keep my secrets
As we order a drink
That's the cheapest
If I lend you my kiss
Please don't keep it
Every minute pisses like an hour
When I'm just in a room
With the lights on
And there's no one who knows
I'm their icon
All that keeps me awake
Is the light time
And there's no one who knows
I'm their icon
Keep the lights on for my sake!
Keep the lights on for my sake!
Close my eyes I see your face
Close my eyes I see your face
I just keep myself awake
I just keep myself awake
I don't want to feel this way
I don't want to feel this
Just in a room with the lights on and there's
No one who knows I'm their icon
All that keeps me awake is their lights on




And there's no one who knows
I'm their icon!

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of "Icon" by Empress Of depict a situation wherein the singer is struggling to sleep and finds herself dwelling on memories of someone she used to care about. She admits to having taken too many pills to be sleeping, suggesting a state of restlessness, and even goes on to describe a physical sensation of discomfort, as if someone is creeping up her spine. She then transitions to a place where she takes comfort in imagining a scenario where she is on a beach, walking hand in hand with the person she is longing for. She wishes to be transported away from her current setting, a room with the lights on, which she describes as making time feel elongated and miserable.


The second verse of the song works itself around the same themes, that of insomnia, desperation and loneliness. The singer finds herself struggling to contain her emotions and having to resort to hiding her true feelings, even in front of the person she is with. She again mentions the "lights on" situation, this time asking someone to keep them on for her own sake. She opens up about how her thoughts keep drifting back to the person who is no longer with her, as if she is haunted by their memory, but at the same time, acknowledges that nobody else knows the depth of her misery, thus publicly maintaining her image of being an "icon".


"Icon" is a deeply emotional song, with lyrics that read like journal entries or private confessions, each line a window into the soul of someone dealing with insomnia, heartbreak, and a sense of isolation. Empress Of's vocal delivery manages to convey both vulnerability and defiance, making it clear that she is not someone to be messed with, despite her overwhelming sadness. The song captures a feeling that is immediately relatable to anyone who has ever felt lost in their own thoughts, and serves as a reminder that everybody carries their own private struggles that the rest of the world might be unaware of.


Line by Line Meaning

If I wasn't awake I'd be dreaming
The singer is experiencing a surreal situation and feels like they're in a dream state


I took too many pills to be sleeping
The singer is struggling to fall asleep and has previously taken medication to assist with this


And the memory of you keeps on creeping
The singer is haunted by the memory of someone in their thoughts


Up my slippery spine all this evening
The memory is causing a physical reaction in the artist's body


Take my hand in your hand
The artist desires physical connection with someone


Like we're walking
The singer wants to replicate the feeling of walking hand-in-hand with someone


On the pebbley sand
The singer is picturing a romantic setting on a beach


And we're talking
The artist wants to have a deep conversation with someone they are close to


Drive me up to the coast
The artist wants to go on a road trip with someone to a scenic destination


Lay my seabag
The artist wants to temporarily leave their baggage behind and relax


But I'm just in a room with the lights on
Despite the singer's desire for connection and new experiences, they are currently alone in a bleak environment


Every minute pisses like an hour
Time feels slow and the artist is struggling to pass the time


When I'm just in a room With the lights on And there's no one who knows I'm their Icon
The singer feels invisible and unimportant to those around them


All that keeps me awake Is the lights on And there's no one who knows I'm their Icon
The singer is kept awake by a need to be recognized and valued by others


The first line of the night Cuts the deepest
The singer is particularly vulnerable at night and is prone to negative thoughts


Then I'm struggling to Keep my secrets
The artist has secrets that they don't want to share with anyone


As we order a drink That's the cheapest
The artist is trying to save money and make the most of their situation


If I lend you my kiss Please don't keep it
The singer is willing to share physical affection with someone, but doesn't want it to be taken for granted


Keep the lights on for my sake!
The singer is pleading with someone to keep the lights on, as it helps with their emotional state


Close my eyes I see your face
The artist is preoccupied with thoughts of someone specific


I just keep myself awake
The artist is deliberately keeping themselves awake, possibly to avoid experiencing bad dreams


I don't want to feel this way
The artist is unhappy with their current emotional state




Writer(s): Lorely Rodriguez

Contributed by Alice D. 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:

Stephen Andrew

I've been listening to this on a loop since it dropped. The soundscape of the chorus is gorgeous.

Brandon Scheepers

Love it!

Naya Mun

I love her voice! Sounds so beautiful and familiar to me. And a nice video! I hope to see more from this artist.

Brittney Witherspoon

i loooove her!! she has such powerful messages in her music!

LPCinema

Brilliant job cuz! The video production is legit. Can't wait to see you again your performances are stellar.

LDenise Loveflower

This song is a river of love , lust, spirituality free flowing rhythm to a beat. I love this artistโค

Alfirin95

Girl and the crew, you're doing good job! <3

S S

love this song so much

Lucy Ayala

Awesome video. Loved it!

Momo Sosa

Gosh, this is so beautiful!

More Comments

More Versions