Athena
Liam Rogers Lyrics

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My mama once told me I could be anything
She was no exception, single mother to a new degree

My sister swore she shouldn't go on a shopping spree
Body snatchers around the corner, pretty one come with me

And my girl from two towns over can't' go dance without a friend or three
Men loom over her shoulders, foggy memories in her drinks

And we don't say anything
And we don't say anything
We don't say anything
Because it's happened before

It's a slow march forward for Athena, dreamer head in the clouds
And nothing's gonna bring her down
(Nothing's gonna bring her down)
It's a slow march forward for Athena, dreamer head in the clouds

Flawless hourglass figures in sparkling moving pictures
With cardboard cutout features, starving for a stare

Discourage future leaders to weigh options far from bleachers
Cheering on the creatures that oppressed and put them there

It's a slow march forward for Athena, dreamer head in the clouds
And nothing's gonna bring her down
(Nothing's gonna bring her down)
It's a slow march forward for Athena, dreamer head in the clouds

Climbing 'til the day I die
Climbing 'til I reach the sky
Try me, know I will survive
When I'm falling, know I'll fly

Climbing 'til the day I die
Climbing 'til I reach the sky
Try me, know I will survive
When I'm falling, know I'll fly

('Til the day I)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Liam Rogers's song Athena touch on a variety of themes such as the challenges of being a woman, the need for resilience, and the importance of chasing one's dreams. The first verse alludes to the struggles that women often face and the pervasive violence that many experience. The line "men loom over her shoulders, foggy memories in her drinks" highlights the issue of sexual assault and the role of bystander silence in perpetuating a culture of violence against women. The subsequent verse brings up the issue of body image and the unrealistic expectations placed on women, particularly in the media. The line "flawless hourglass figures in sparkling moving pictures with cardboard cutout features, starving for a stare" speaks to the damaging effect of media on women's self-esteem.

Despite the challenges highlighted, the chorus is empowering and optimistic. It speaks to the resilience of women and the need to keep pushing forward despite the odds. The line "it's a slow march forward for Athena, dreamer head in the clouds and nothing's gonna bring her down" suggests that perseverance, optimism, and a strong sense of self are key to overcoming obstacles and achieving one's goals. The final lines of the song, "climbing 'til the day I die, climbing 'til I reach the sky, try me, know I will survive, when I'm falling, know I'll fly" reinforce the message of resilience and the importance of never giving up in the face of adversity.

Line by Line Meaning

My mama once told me I could be anything
My mother taught me that I can be whatever I want to be

She was no exception, single mother to a new degree
She was a single mother who was also breaking new barriers

My sister swore she shouldn't go on a shopping spree
My sister felt guilty about going shopping for herself

Body snatchers around the corner, pretty one come with me
She felt unsafe due to potential kidnappers and asked me to go with her

And my girl from two towns over can't' go dance without a friend or three
My friend from another town can't go dancing without a few friends for safety

Men loom over her shoulders, foggy memories in her drinks
She fears being assaulted and wary of men who give her drinks

And we don't say anything
We don't speak up

Because it's happened before
Because similar experiences have occurred in the past

It's a slow march forward for Athena, dreamer head in the clouds
Athena is slowly but surely chasing her dreams

And nothing's gonna bring her down
She won't be discouraged

(Nothing's gonna bring her down)
Nothing can break her spirit

Flawless hourglass figures in sparkling moving pictures
Celebrities with perfect bodies in movies and media

With cardboard cutout features, starving for a stare
But they lack personality and crave attention

Discourage future leaders to weigh options far from bleachers
Students are encouraged to stay passive and not think outside the box

Cheering on the creatures that oppressed and put them there
Society celebrates those in power and those who put others down

It's a slow march forward for Athena, dreamer head in the clouds
Despite these challenges, Athena keeps chasing her dreams

Climbing 'til the day I die
I will never stop trying