After the Pharrell video went viral, several different record labels tried to sign Rogers. She ended up negotiating a contract with Capitol Records where "she licenses her music to them through her own imprint, Debay Sounds." As a result, she has more control over her sound and image than many artists at a similar place in their music careers.
Rogers's EP, Now That the Light Is Fading, was released on February 17, 2017. She released her major-label debut album, Heard It In a Past Life, in January 2019. The album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200.
She made her television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on February 15, 2017, Saturday Night Live debut on November 3, 2018 and Today Show debut on July 12, 2019.
She cites Carrie Brownstein, Patti Smith, Kim Gordon, and BjĂśrk as her musical inspirations, while prominent singers Brandi Carlile and Sharon Van Etten - who she calls her "musical big sisters" - have become mentors. She also mentioned in her initial conversation with Williams that she has synesthesia, a benign condition where one or more senses is perceived at once. In her case, she is able to perceive colours as a response to hearing music.
Better
Maggie Rogers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Delicate embrace I need sometimes
Guides me when I'm on my way back home
Tells me when I'm truly all alone
And when I get sick of the silence
I get back on the highway
Could be going nowhere
Sick of the silence
But I'll be somewhere new by dawn
They could be
Better, better, better, better, better
Better, better, better, better, better
Better, better, better, better, better
Oh, oh-oh-oh
And can you can recall that moment at all
When we warmed up way last June?
And how many times do we talk through the night
And sleep in way past noon?
But now I'm sick of the silence
Getting back on the highway
Could be going nowhere
I can be going your way
Sick of the silence
But I'll be somewhere new by dawn
They could be better
They could be better
Better, better, better, better
Better
Better, better, better
Better, better, better, better, better
Be-be-be-be-be-better
Be-be-be-be-be-better
Better, better, better, better, better (oh, ooh)
Better, better, better, better, better
Better, better, better, better, better
Oh (be-be-be-be-be-better)
Oh, oh-oh-oh (oh-oh-oh)
Better, better, better, better, better (oh, oh-oh-oh)
Better, better, better, better, better (oh, oh-oh-oh)
Better, better, better, better, better (oh, oh-oh-oh)
Be-be-be-be-be-better
Oh, oh-oh-oh
Better, better
In "Better," Maggie Rogers sings about the power and beauty of silence. She describes it as a delicate embrace that sometimes guides her when she's lost and tells her when she's truly alone, creating a peaceful stillness that can be calming and healing. But as much as she appreciates it, she also acknowledges that it can be suffocating at times. When she's sick of the silence, she hits the highway, not necessarily with a destination in mind, but just to escape and explore. Perhaps she's seeking new experiences or hoping to find someone to break the silence with.
The chorus, which repeats the word "better" over and over again, seems to reflect both sides of the silence. It could be interpreted as a desire for things to improve or as an appreciation for the way things are, depending on how you look at it. It might be a longing for something more or an affirmation of the beauty in simplicity.
Overall, "Better" is a tender and introspective song that explores the complexities of human emotion and the power of peace and quiet.
Line by Line Meaning
Silence lays like lace around my mind
The peace and quiet is surrounding me like a delicate fabric
Delicate embrace I need sometimes
Sometimes I want and need to be hugged by the silence
Guides me when I'm on my way back home
The tranquility helps me find my way home when I'm lost
Tells me when I'm truly all alone
The quiet gives me the realization of how solitary I am
And when I get sick of the silence
When I reach my saturation point with the stillness
I get back on the highway
I hit the road once again
Could be going nowhere
I might be driving without a destination in mind
I can be going your way
Or maybe I'll end up going in the direction of someone I know
But I'll be somewhere new by dawn
Regardless, I'll find out a different place to be by morning
And can you recall that moment at all
Do you remember that particular instance?
When we warmed up way last June?
When we got comfortable with each other back in June?
And how many times do we talk through the night
We used to talk for long hours?
And sleep in way past noon?
And then wake up quite late?
But now I'm sick of the silence
However, I am getting tired of the lack of noise
Getting back on the highway
Going back to the road
Could be going nowhere
Not having any specific place to go
I can be going your way
I might be driving towards you
But I'll be somewhere new by dawn
But, in either case, I'll be in a novel location by sunrise
They could be better, better, better, better, better
Things or situations can always be improved
Better, better, better, better, better
Good things can always get better
Better, better, better, better, better
Improvements will just keep coming
Oh, oh-oh-oh
The sound of cheerful anticipation
Be-be-be-be-be-better, better
I want to aim for something that's better
Better, better, better, better, better
We can improve endlessly
Better, better, better, better, better
Things can always progress
Be-be-be-be-be-better, better
It is worth pursuing something better
Oh, oh-oh-oh
The sound of eager hopefulness
Better, better, better, better, better
Keep on progressing to something better
Better, better, better, better, better
Always try to improve
Better, better, better, better, better
We should always be striving for better
Be-be-be-be-be-better, better
Keep aiming for something better
Oh, oh-oh-oh
The sound of boundless optimism
Lyrics Š DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Lucio Westmoreland, Maggie Rogers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Rogers
Silence lays like lace around my mind
Delicate embrace I need sometimes
Guides me when I'm on my way back home
Tells me when I'm truly all aloneAnd when I get sick of the silence
I get back on the highway
Could be going nowhere
I can be going your way
Sick of the silence
But I'll be somewhere new by dawnThey could be
Better, better, better, better, better
Better, better, better, better, better
Better, better, better, better, better
Oh, oh-oh-ohAnd can you can recall that moment at all
When we warmed up way last June?
And how many times do we talk through the night
And sleep in way past noon?But now I'm sick of the silence
Getting back on the highway
Could be going nowhere
I can be going your way
Sick of the silence
But I'll be somewhere new by dawnThey could be better
They could be better
Better, better, better, better, better
Better
Better, better, better, better, better
Better, better, better, better, betterBe-be-be-be-be-better, better
Be-be-be-be-be-better, better
Better, better, better, better, better
Better, better, better, better, better
Better, better, better, better, better
Be-be-be-be-be-better, better
Oh, oh-oh-oh
Better, better, better, better, better
Better, better, better, better, better
Better, better, better, better, better
Be-be-be-be-be-better, better
Oh, oh-oh-oh
Better, better, better, better, better
Connor
Listening to this on repeat while tears are rolling down my face. Not sure how to explain it, but this song (and your music) just takes me back to a state of child like innocence when nothing existed but joy. The imagery in my head is amazing and I wish everyone could feel this feeling. You're incredible, Maggie Rogers.
Adam Callaghan
Human
Fosta Child
I swear she so damn good
Fosta Child
Me too SMH I listen to her songs as I lay down for sleep every night.
Maggie Rogers
Thanks for all the love and support. Seriously blown away by the love from all of you⤠Thank you all â¤ď¸
Uzoulu Obijiofor
Catcher in the rye
Flynn
This song just makes me want to drive, I don't have a destination but me and this song are going places
Fresh Maker
Tight tight tight!
Arjun Premnath
Tuco Salamanca cool thought yo!
David Rogers
Silence lays like lace around my mind
Delicate embrace I need sometimes
Guides me when I'm on my way back home
Tells me when I'm truly all aloneAnd when I get sick of the silence
I get back on the highway
Could be going nowhere
I can be going your way
Sick of the silence
But I'll be somewhere new by dawnThey could be
Better, better, better, better, better
Better, better, better, better, better
Better, better, better, better, better
Oh, oh-oh-ohAnd can you can recall that moment at all
When we warmed up way last June?
And how many times do we talk through the night
And sleep in way past noon?But now I'm sick of the silence
Getting back on the highway
Could be going nowhere
I can be going your way
Sick of the silence
But I'll be somewhere new by dawnThey could be better
They could be better
Better, better, better, better, better
Better
Better, better, better, better, better
Better, better, better, better, betterBe-be-be-be-be-better, better
Be-be-be-be-be-better, better
Better, better, better, better, better
Better, better, better, better, better
Better, better, better, better, better
Be-be-be-be-be-better, better
Oh, oh-oh-oh
Better, better, better, better, better
Better, better, better, better, better
Better, better, better, better, better
Be-be-be-be-be-better, better
Oh, oh-oh-oh
Better, better, better, better, better