I Was So Sure
Former Vandal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's what they're telling me
But I just can't calm down
Grieve
I know it's what I need
But I just don't know how
But they still can't drown the sound,
of me knowing this is all my fault
We're still too young, this is too much
But I still know that there must
have been something that I could have done
I was so sure
But I fell short
I thought I'd stand tall, and shake the ashes off,
I told myself that I could be strong
I was so sure
Scream
my words are failing me
When did we become so numb?
Please,
don't tell me anything
the past can't be undone
All these voices get so loud
But they still can't drown the sound,
of the fact that everything has changed,
We're still too young, this is too much
I was naive and out of touch
I was so sick of always needing saved
I was so sure
But I fell short
I thought I'd stand tall, and shake the ashes off,
I told myself that I could be strong
I was so sure
I was so sure
But I fell short
I thought I'd stand tall, and shake the ashes off,
I told myself that I could be strong
I was so sure
I was so sure
I was so sure
"Breathe"
That's what they're telling me
But I just don't know how
In "I Was So Sure," Former Vandal addresses themes of guilt, grief, and the difficulties of moving on from a past mistake. The song opens with the singer being advised to "breathe," a common technique for managing anxiety, but they confess that they "just can't calm down." This is followed by the chorus, in which the singer reflects on their confidence in the past ("I was so sure") and its subsequent collapse ("but I fell short"). The remainder of the song deals with the singer's struggle to accept their culpability and come to terms with the changes that have occurred since their mistake.
The second verse begins with the singer lamenting their inability to express themselves effectively ("my words are failing me"), and pleading with others not to try and offer empty reassurances ("don't tell me anything"). The chorus is repeated, with the singer's despair becoming more pronounced as they sing it again, culminating in the final repetition of "I was so sure," which feels more defeated and resigned than the previous ones.
Throughout the song, Former Vandal uses evocative imagery to convey the singer's emotional state. The repeated references to the sound of the singer's guilt being unable to be drowned out suggest a persistent internal monologue that they can't escape from. Similarly, the lines "when did we become so numb?" and "I was naive and out of touch" imply a sense of disconnect from the world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
Breathe
People around me are suggesting to take deep breaths to calm down but despite trying, I am still unable to feel at ease.
Grieve
I know that grieving is important to let go of my pain but I am not sure how to do it effectively.
All these voices get so loud
But they still can't drown the sound,
of me knowing this is all my fault
Although I hear various voices around me, they are not strong enough to quiet the voice in my head that blames myself for the situation.
We're still too young, this is too much
But I still know that there must
have been something that I could have done
Despite being young and unable to handle the situation, I still believe that I could have done something to change the outcome.
I was so sure
But I fell short
I thought I'd stand tall, and shake the ashes off,
I told myself that I could be strong
I was so sure
I was confident in myself that I could overcome the situation, but I failed to do so. I tried to convince myself that I was strong enough to rise above it, but deep down, I was unsure.
Scream
my words are failing me
When did we become so numb?
I want to scream and express my emotions, but I am finding it difficult to articulate my thoughts. I wonder when we as a society started losing our ability to feel deeply.
Please,
don't tell me anything
the past can't be undone
I don't want to hear anything that is said about my situation. I know that the past cannot be changed, and I don't want to dwell on it anymore.
of the fact that everything has changed,
We're still too young, this is too much
I was naive and out of touch
I was so sick of always needing saved
I am aware that everything in my life has changed, and I am struggling to come to terms with it. I feel like I was too trusting and naive which made me out of touch with reality, and I am tired of always depending on others to save me.
Contributed by Jonathan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.