Juggernaut
Matthew Pop Lyrics
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A walking case of dichotomy.
Couldn't it be? How could it be?
And I won't be the simpleton that you're paying for,
And I'm so in love with you this time.
And I'm not the juggernaut that you thought I was, that you're waiting for.
No, I'm just like the rest of us inside.
Keep feelings close, it's better than this thought.
Dodging black holes in your parking lot.
Couldn't it be? How could it be?
And I won't be the simpleton that you're paying for,
And I'm so in love with you this time.
And I'm not the juggernaut that you thought I was, that you're waiting for.
No, I'm just like the rest of us inside.
The opening line of Matthew Pop's "Juggernaut" sets the tone for the whole song - a sense of feeling stuck and immobile. The use of the word "stasis" implies an inability to move forward, as if the singer is stuck in a position they can't get out of. The next line furthers this sense of dichotomy - the singer is at odds with themselves. They may want to be more than what they are, but they can't reconcile their different sides. This is reinforced in the third line with the questioning of "Couldn't it be? How could it be?"
The chorus is where the singer's frustration with people who try to pigeonhole them comes to the forefront. They refuse to be the "simpleton" that someone pays for, indicating that they won't let anyone take away their agency or treat them as less than what they are. At the same time, the singer also feels a deep love for someone, declaring "I'm so in love with you this time." This pull between defiance and vulnerability is further highlighted with the repeated assertion that they aren't the "juggernaut" that someone has made them out to be, but that they are still human and just like everyone else inside.
The second verse encourages the listener to keep their feelings close to their chest, instead of letting them out in a potentially dangerous environment. The use of "dodging black holes" suggests the singer has experienced negative consequences from opening up too much in the past. Still, the sense of helplessness remains - the questioning returns in "Couldn't it be? How could it be?"
Overall, "Juggernaut" is a song about feeling stuck and caught between different versions of oneself. It's about refusing to let others define you, while still grappling with the messiness of emotions and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
An ace in stasis, seems that's what I've become.
I feel like I'm just waiting, not striving for anything.
A walking case of dichotomy.
I feel like I have aspects of myself that contradict each other.
Couldn't it be? How could it be?
I'm questioning my situation and how I got here.
And I won't be the simpleton that you're paying for,
I won't conform to your expectations or be easily controlled.
And I'm so in love with you this time.
I care deeply about you in a different way than before.
And I'm not the juggernaut that you thought I was, that you're waiting for.
I'm not the unstoppable force that you were expecting me to be.
No, I'm just like the rest of us inside.
I have flaws and insecurities like everyone else.
Keep feelings close, it's better than this thought.
It's more important to focus on emotions rather than rational thinking.
Dodging black holes in your parking lot.
Avoiding dangerous situations or people in your life.
Couldn't it be? How could it be?
I'm still questioning my situation and how I got here.
Contributed by David B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.