"Pianki means bubble… Read Full Bio ↴A boy, sometimes even a man... but never a guy.
"Pianki means bubbles or marshmallows in Polish. I'm one of those at least. I'm bubbly, right?" A capacity crowd at the Factory, an intimate Rochester, Michigan concert venue, chuckles in unison, and Jeff Pianki sheepishly grins. Ice broken. Time to sing.
Jeff Pianki is a natural. Like Mickey Mantle was born to hit home runs and Carol Burnett was born to make us laugh, this Milford, Michigan based folk musician was born to entertain. His soulful, effortless vocals and folky, simple guitar and banjo riffs hush audiences of all ages. Currently self-recording his debut full-length album, Jeff combines his quiet wit, unassuming nature, and positive outlook with his god-given musical talent to create a formula that has made him one of Michigan's best kept secrets.
While Jeff has kept a low profile for the most part in the new era of building careers via social networking websites, the one site that he has embraced has been YouTube, building a rabid following by posting hours and hours of unedited, raw live footage of himself performing a laundry list of originals, along with some great cover tracks.
Weight of the World
Jeff Pianki Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Washing yesterday's dishes
And cringing about something I said
At a party in December
To a friend of a friend
Who probably can't even remember we met
When the dishes are finished
And I think about calling you back
And I envision at dinner
Conversation gets thinner
And you end up just calling a cab
I feel the weight of the world
But the world doesn't feel me at all
I feel the weight of the world
So I'll try to get distant
Forget you ever existed
Wind up thinking about you even more
And when I'm tired and finished
Contemplating your existence
I'll be knocking at your front door
I feel the weight of the world
But the world doesn't feel me at all
I feel the weight of the world
If there's change I'm resistant
Can't quit talking and listen
Always waiting for the worst days
I'm so anxiety ridden
It's a miracle you didn't
Give up on me right away
The lyrics of Jeff Pianki's song "Weight of the World" describe the overwhelming feeling of anxiety and the weight of internal struggles that the singer feels. The opening lines depict the singer occupied in washing dishes and being consumed with thoughts about a mistake they have made at a party in the past. The singer's internal dialogue is dominated by a constant battle with anxiety that creates a sense of detachment from the world around them. The second verse sees the singer trying to move on from a past love interest and attempting to forget about them, but they eventually give in and end up at their front door.
Overall, the song's message is about the difficulty of carrying the weight of the world's problems and the resulting toll it takes on an individual's mental strength. The singer's anxiety and self-doubt are so intense that they feel detached from others, who seemingly don't understand how they feel. However, the longing for a past love interest only adds to their emotional burden.
Overall, "Weight of the World" is a deeply introspective song about anxiety, self-doubt, and the weight of emotional turmoil. It demonstrates the struggle of living with anxiety that can consume one's thoughts and can make people feel alienated from their surroundings. Additionally, the song touches on the difficulty of letting go of past relationships, even if they cause more emotional pain.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm so anxiety-ridden
I am overwhelmed with anxiety.
Washing yesterday's dishes
Trying to distract myself from my anxiety by completing a menial task.
And cringing about something I said
Dwelling on a past social blunder that haunts me.
At a party in December
Referring to a specific incident in the past that still haunts me.
To a friend of a friend
This person is not integral to my social circle, but their opinion still matters to me.
Who probably can't even remember we met
Realizing that this person likely doesn't care about our interaction as much as I do.
When the dishes are finished
Shifting my focus from cleaning to the next task.
I get coffee in the kitchen
Seeking comfort and a temporary distraction through caffeine.
And I think about calling you back
Considering reaching out to someone for comfort, but feeling worried about further rejection.
And I envision at dinner
Imagining a hypothetical scenario with this person that ultimately does not play out in reality.
Conversation gets thinner
The imagined interaction becomes stilted and uncomfortable.
And you end up just calling a cab
The hypothetical interaction ends in rejection or disappointment.
So I'll try to get distant
Attempting to distance myself from this person and my feelings for them.
Forget you ever existed
Trying to erase memories of this person from my mind.
Wind up thinking about you even more
My attempts to distance myself actually have the opposite effect and make me think about them more.
And when I'm tired and finished
Even when I have exhausted myself trying to forget this person, I still cannot.
Contemplating your existence
Spending a lot of time thinking about this person's presence in my life and what their opinion of me might be.
I'll be knocking at your front door
Ultimately, despite my best efforts, I cannot resist reaching out to this person, even if I fear rejection.
If there's change I'm resistant
Admitting my hesitancy to embrace change or take real action in my attempts to navigate my anxiety and relationships.
Can't quit talking and listen
My anxiety and racing thoughts prevent me from being fully present or attentive in conversations with others.
Always waiting for the worst days
My anxiety continually makes me anticipate and fear the worst possible outcome in every situation.
It's a miracle you didn't
Grateful that someone has not given up on me despite my anxiety and social struggles.
Give up on me right away
Acknowledging that my difficulties in relationships might make others want to distance themselves from me, but also hoping for continued compassion and understanding.
I feel the weight of the world
My anxiety feels like a heavy burden that affects every aspect of my life.
But the world doesn't feel me at all
Despite how much I struggle and worry, the world at large does not care about or understand my anxiety as much as I do.
Writer(s): Jeff Pianki
Contributed by Annabelle S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Matthew Evans
I just got an email from Bandcamp and shouted to my Wife “he’s back!” like she was instantly supposed to know who I was talking about. Glad to hear new music from you and hopefully you will be releasing more soon. Really nice track by the way, love how the ending fits the last lyric.
Em Holl
Your old songs were a part of a huge chunk of my life, and listening to them brings me so much nostalgia. So excited to see some new music! 😊
nimlyn
You've been my favorite artist for so long, and today was the first day I got to experience a new Jeff Pianki song with my husband. We've been together the entire length of your hiatus! Thanks for making my entire year. Fantastic song! We love you!
Lucy
I’ve been holding on to your old videos in my favorites for years. Such a lovely song. Congratulations!
Frank J. Pianki
Great Jeff, good to hear you again.
A
So surreal to see this channel active again. We missed you! This is perfection. Can't wait to hear more.
Austin Plaine
been following you since your demos and I always look forward to your releases. Love this. Thanks, Jeff
Komal Sundas
Love it💖
Glad you are back.
kusjexmandy
<3 glad to hear from you again, beautiful
roger smart
You've always had gift for lyrics. This song is no exception.