When You're Small
MGMT Lyrics


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When you're big
And troubles seem so far
You put your belly up to the bar
Squint your eyes
You can almost miss the dirt
You tell yourself
It couldn't hurt
But when you're small
You can't walk down the hall
When you're small
You're not very big at all

When you're low
You reach a certain point
Where you can't really see the point
You can try
But you can't see eye to eye
Yet when you're low then you really know

But when you're high
It's easier to fight
When you're high
You don't have to know why

When you're small
You don't have very far to fall
When you're small
You feel like you belong
When you're small
You can curl into a ball




When you're small
No you're not very big at all

Overall Meaning

The song 'When You're Small' by MGMT talks about the differences in perspectives and experiences from being big or small. The opening lines invite the listener to imagine the complacency that comes with being big and the ability to miss the small details or dirt. It suggests that it's easier to be content with oneself when you're big, and hence, the idea of getting into a "belly up to the bar" position. However, the perspective changes when you're small. The lyrics suggest that when you're small, you feel limited, and even walking down the hall can be difficult. Being small makes you feel insignificant, and every task seems impossible to overcome.


The second verse talks about being low and how everything seems pointless. There's a sense of hopelessness and despair that comes with being low. The lyrics suggest that it's hard to communicate effectively with others when you're low, and it's easier to give up. However, the situation becomes slightly better when you're high. There's a sense of confidence and strength that comes with being high. It's easier to fight when you're high, and knowing why is not so important.


In summary, the song describes the differences between perspectives and experiences that come with being big or small, low or high. It suggests that being small or low can feel limiting and insignificant, while being big or high can be complacent and lacking in detail.


Line by Line Meaning

When you're big
When you are successful or powerful


And troubles seem so far
It seems like you have no worries


You put your belly up to the bar
You become comfortable and confident


Squint your eyes
You ignore flaws or problems


You can almost miss the dirt
You overlook the negative aspects


You tell yourself
You convince yourself


It couldn't hurt
It is not going to do any harm if you ignore


But when you're small
When you are weak or insignificant


You can't walk down the hall
Small things can hinder your progress


When you're low
When you are feeling depressed or down


You reach a certain point
You reach a limit


Where you can't really see the point
You can't see the purpose or meaning


You can try
You can attempt to understand


But you can't see eye to eye
You cannot comprehend fully


Yet when you're low then you really know
You understand better when you are feeling low


But when you're high
When you are happy or successful


It's easier to fight
You can face challenges more easily


You don't have to know why
It doesn't matter why you are happy


You don't have very far to fall
When you are small, failure is not too far away


You feel like you belong
You are more comfortable when you are weak


You can curl into a ball
You can hide or avoid problems


No you're not very big at all
You are weak or insignificant




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Andrew VanWyngarden, Ben Goldwasser, James Richardson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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