It Ain't Me
Nick Hotel Lyrics

The lyrics to Nick Hotel's song "It Ain't Me" paint a vivid picture of feelings of isolation and not quite fitting in. The opening line, "I'm a murky fish tank in an empty zoo," sets the tone for the sensation of being trapped and unseen. The comparison of friends to aphids on kohlrabi roots suggests a lack of meaningful connections or a sense of being surrounded by insignificant relationships.

The following line, "Don't want me but I don't want you," represents a conflicted state of mind, where the singer neither desires acceptance from others nor reciprocates that desire. They are stuck between a "ladder or the chute," faced with a decision between climbing up or taking a downward path, ultimately settling for the latter, implying a resignation or acceptance of less desirable circumstances.

The second paragraph portrays the singer as a "metal pariah in a hurried school," emphasizing their alienation and disconnection from the environment around them. The image of worms on wheels burrowing into the cool suggests a desire to escape and find solace, contrasting with the singer's own lack of direction or purpose. The line "What the hell have I? All I have is hell" expresses a sense of despair and hopelessness in the midst of a seemingly unfulfilling existence.

The repeated refrain of "Don't know who I want but it ain't me" reflects the singer's confusion about their own desires and identity. It speaks to a disconnect from their own sense of self and a longing for something different, even if they can't quite pinpoint what that is.

Overall, "It Ain't Me" is a poignant exploration of feeling detached and unable to find one's place in the world, characterized by powerful and evocative imagery.