Slow
J. Riley Hill Lyrics
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Long walks
White waves
Dark thoughts
Lay low, you said to me
How long is endlessly
I walk slow
Smile more
I walk slow
Smile more
From here the world looks like its upside down
I wake up
Stand tall
I reach out
Fall down
At night, I lay awake
These chains I can't escape
I walk slow
Smile more
And save my tears from flowing over
I walk slow
Smile more
It's hard when you're a million miles from home
But the words on my skin
Feed the fire within
And I raise my glass
To the love we share and the times we've had
I walk slow
Smile more
I'm dancing while the storm blows over
I walk slow
Smile more
I feel the light and all my fears have gone, gone, gone, gone
Walk slow
Smile more
And get what
You search for
In J. Riley Hill's song Slow, the lyrics depict a sense of loneliness and isolation that the singer feels. The setting of the song is during cold, wintry days where the singer takes long walks by the white waves, but these walks only lead to dark thoughts. The singer is advised to "lay low," which suggests that they are going through a tough time, perhaps a difficult phase of life. They are looking for something or someone to hold on to but feel like they are endlessly searching without any luck.
The lyrics of the chorus, "I walk slow, smile more," portray the idea of taking things at a steady pace, despite feeling lost or alone. From their perspective, the world looks like it's upside down, signifying a feeling of disorientation or disarray. However, the singer is trying to maintain a positive outlook, even though there's no one around to notice their efforts. At night, when they go to bed, they can't escape the chains of negative thoughts that weigh them down.
As the song progresses, it becomes apparent that the singer has resilience and strength. They acknowledge that they're a million miles from home and feel overwhelmed, but they continue to keep moving forward. The lyrics, "But the words on my skin feed the fire within," suggest that they have a meaningful tattoo that reminds them of their inner resilience, which helps them overcome their fear. The song concludes with a hopeful note that the storm is passing, and the singer is dancing like the storm is blowing over, indicating that they have found their strength and are at peace.
Line by Line Meaning
Cold days
The weather is unpleasant
Long walks
Spending an extended amount of time while you're walking
White waves
The waves in the sea have high crests due to strong gusts of wind
Dark thoughts
Feeling insecure, depressed or anxious about some situation
Lay low, you said to me
You advised me to avoid attention or trouble
How long is endlessly
I'm struggling to cope with being in a state of constant boredom or pain
I walk slow
I stroll at a leisurely pace
Smile more
I try to appear happy or content with my life
But there is no one here to notice
No one is interested in me or my surroundings
From here the world looks like its upside down
My perception of reality is skewed
I wake up
I get out of bed
Stand tall
I try to be confident
I reach out
I attempt to connect with others
Fall down
I fail in my attempt to connect with others
At night, I lay awake
I can't fall asleep
These chains I can't escape
I'm struggling with some problem that I can't overcome
And save my tears from flowing over
I try to suppress my emotions and avoid crying
It's hard when you're a million miles from home
Being away from home makes everything more difficult
But the words on my skin
The tattoos on my body which have a hidden meaning
Feed the fire within
They inspire or motivate me to continue on despite hardships
And I raise my glass
I propose a toast
To the love we share and the times we've had
To our past which we cherish
I'm dancing while the storm blows over
I'm enjoying life despite challenges
I feel the light and all my fears have gone, gone, gone, gone
I feel relieved and free of fear
And get what
This seems to be an incomplete thought with no obvious meaning in the context of the song
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Justin Kniest
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind