The chorus suggests that the narrator can only see the light when there's darkness in her. It implies that she can only find clarity when she is going through a difficult time. The dream that she sees only in her sleep suggests that her desires and aspirations are confined to her subconscious mind.
The second verse repeats the theme of waiting. The narrator is waiting for something, but again, doesn't know what exactly. It appears that her life is a perpetual search for something that she can never quite grasp.
In the second chorus, the narrator feels the light within herself, but only when she is surrounded by darkness. The dream, which is confined to her subconscious, cries to be set free. It appears that the dream is a metaphor for her deepest desires and aspirations, which are yet to be fulfilled.
Overall, "Abbey" by Mitski explores the theme of unfulfilled desires, the constant search for meaning, and the struggle to find clarity amidst the darkness.
Abbey
Mitski Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have been hungry
I was born hungry
What do I need?
I am something
I have been something
I was born something
There is a light that I can see
But only, it seems, when there's darkness in me
There is a dream that I sometimes see
That only appears in the dark of sleep
I am waiting
I have been waiting
I was born waiting
I was born waiting for that something
Just one something
I was born something
I was born
There is a light, I feel it in me
But only, it seems, when the dark surrounds me
There is a dream and it sleeps in me
Keeps me awake in the night
Crying sets me free
And I wake every night
Crying sets me free
Mitski's song "Abbey" embodies a feeling of yearning for something that seems permanently out of reach. The singer in the song is grappling with a deep sense of hunger, a craving for fulfillment that has been with them since birth. The repetition of the lines "I am hungry/I have been hungry/I was born hungry/What do I need?" emphasizes the weight of this desire.
The song also touches on the idea of potential, wondering what the singer could be if their hunger was ever satiated. The lines "I am something/I have been something/I was born something/What could I be?" speaks to a personal introspection, urging the singer to examine who they are and who they could become.
Despite the yearning for something more, the song acknowledges the existence of a light, a spark of hope that can be seen in moments of darkness. However, this optimism is tethered to feelings of despair, as the light can only be seen "when there's darkness in me". Similarly, the dream that the singer seeks only appears "in the dark of sleep", further emphasizing the idea that fulfillment is fleeting and intangible.
The last lines of the song, "Crying sets me free/And I wake every night/Crying sets me free", highlight the cathartic nature of crying as a form of release for the singer's inner turmoil. Despite this, the end of the song also reinforces the idea that the singer's hunger and waiting persists.
Line by Line Meaning
I am hungry
I possess a deep longing, an insatiable desire.
I have been hungry
This longing has been with me for a long time.
I was born hungry
This longing has been a part of me since my birth.
What do I need?
I am unsure of what will quench my thirst for fulfillment.
I am something
I exist as a being with inherent value and purpose.
I have been something
I have had a sense of purpose for a while now.
I was born something
I came into this world with a unique identity and purpose.
What could I be?
I wonder about the potential paths I can take to fulfill my purpose.
There is a light that I can see
I have a glimmer of hope and possibility within me.
But only, it seems, when there's darkness in me
This hope and possibility only reveals itself when I am in a state of darkness and despair.
There is a dream that I sometimes see
I have a vision of a future that I long to fulfill.
That only appears in the dark of sleep
This vision is elusive and only appears in moments of rest and contemplation.
I am waiting
I am in a state of anticipation, hoping for something to fulfill me.
I have been waiting
I have been in this state of anticipation for a long time.
I was born waiting
This longing for fulfillment has been a constant part of my existence.
I was born waiting for that something
I have been waiting for a specific something to give my life meaning.
Just one something
I don't need much, just something to fulfill my purpose.
There is a light, I feel it in me
There is a spark of hope within me that refuses to be extinguished.
But only, it seems, when the dark surrounds me
This hope only reveals itself when I am in a state of darkness and despair.
There is a dream and it sleeps in me
I have a vision of a future that I long to fulfill, but it is currently dormant within me.
Keeps me awake in the night
This vision haunts me and keeps me from restful sleep.
Crying sets me free
Expressing my emotions through tears provides a temporary release from the weight of my longing.
And I wake every night
My longing is so intense that it disturbs my sleep and wakes me up.
Crying sets me free
Expressing my emotions through tears provides a temporary release from the weight of my longing.
Contributed by Emma J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
megangoldberg
on My Love Mine All Mine
very interesting
mon
on My Love Mine All Mine
w song
Samounou
on My Love Mine All Mine
Samounou
Samounou
on My Love Mine All Mine
Gaoussou
Tut
on My Love Mine All Mine
Great song
kenna
on My Love Mine All Mine
Moon, a hole of light
Through the big top tent up high
Here before and after me
Shinin′ down on me
Moon, tell me if I could
Send up my heart to you?
So, when I die, which I must do
Could it shine down here with you?
Cause my love is mine, all mine
I love, mine, mine, mine
Nothing in the world belongs to me
But my love, mine, all mine, all mine
My baby here on earth
Showed me what my heart was worth
So, when it comes to be my turn
Could you shine it down here for her?
Cause my love is mine, all mine
I love, mine, mine, mine
Nothing in the world belongs to me
But my love, mine, all mine
Nothing in the world is mine for free
But my love, mine, all mine, all mine
pax
on Brand New City
"But if I gave up on being pretty, I wouldn't know how to be alive. I should move to a brand new city and teach myself how to die." that part goddamn so damn good
i
on A Burning Hill
i think for me i interpret this as how i’ve accepted my sadness and anxiety, at this point i even cause more pain for myself on purpose. i just observe it and don’t do anything and even if i do i just make everything worse and if i somehow feel better im disappointed spreading more fire to watch and observe.
nana
on Fireworks
I wish i was as beautiful as this song