Me
Paula Cole Lyrics


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I am not the person who is singing
I am the silent one inside
I am not the one who laughs at people's jokes
I just pacify their egos

I am not my house or my car or my songs
They are only just stops along my way
I am like winter
I'm a dark cold female
With a golden ring of wisdom in my cave

[Chorus]
And it is me who is my enemy
Me who beats me up
Me who makes the monsters
Me who strips my confidence

I am carrying my voice
I am carrying my heart
I am carrying my rhythm
I am carrying my prayers

But you can't kill my spirit
It's soaring and it's strong
Like a mountain
I go on and on

But when my wings are folded
The brightly colored moth
Blends into the dirt into the ground

[Chorus]

And it's me who's too weak
And it's me who's too shy
To ask for the thing I love
And it's me who's too weak

And it's me who's too shy
To ask for the thing I love
That I love (6 times)
I am walking on the bridge

I am over the water
And I'm scared as hell
But I know there's something better
Yes I know there's something

Yes I know, I know, yes I know
That I love (5 times overlapping chorus)
But it's me




And it's me
But it's me (4 times)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Paula Cole's "Me" seem to be a meditation on the idea of identity and self-acceptance. The first stanza sets up this idea by establishing that the "person who is singing" is not necessarily the same as the "silent one inside." The second stanza goes on to reject material possessions as markers of identity, instead positioning the self as a complex, multifaceted entity that contains both darkness and wisdom.


The chorus of the song repeats the idea that the "enemy" is not an external force, but rather a part of the self that "beats me up" and "strips my confidence." The verses that follow reinforce this idea, depicting the self as both strong and weak, simultaneously carrying its voice, heart, rhythm, and prayers while also feeling too shy or too weak to ask for what it loves.


The final lines of the song bring together its various themes, depicting the self as walking on a bridge over water and being scared, but ultimately believing that there is something better on the other side. The final repetition of the chorus emphasizes the idea that the self itself is both the problem and the solution.


Line by Line Meaning

I am not the person who is singing
I am the quiet observer within.


I am the silent one inside
I am the unspoken voice within.


I am not the one who laughs at people's jokes
I am the one who listens and understands.


I just pacify their egos
I soothe their emotions and calm their inner doubts.


I am not my house or my car or my songs
I am not defined by the material things in my life.


They are only just stops along my way
They are temporary and fleeting moments in my journey.


I am like winter
I am a symbol of darkness and introspection.


I'm a dark cold female
I embody qualities such as strength and resilience.


With a golden ring of wisdom in my cave
I possess knowledge and insight that is valuable to me.


And it is me who is my enemy
I am the only one standing in the way of my own success.


Me who beats me up
I criticize myself and suppress my own potential.


Me who makes the monsters
I create my own fears and doubts.


Me who strips my confidence
I am the one who undermines my own self-esteem.


I am carrying my voice
I am expressing myself through my words and actions.


I am carrying my heart
I am nurturing my emotions and my passions.


I am carrying my rhythm
I am moving forward with my own individual beat.


I am carrying my prayers
I am manifesting my hopes and dreams through my actions.


But you can't kill my spirit
I am unbreakable and resilient.


It's soaring and it's strong
My spirit is powerful and transcendent.


Like a mountain
My strength and resilience are unwavering and steadfast.


I go on and on
I am persistent and determined in my pursuit of my dreams.


But when my wings are folded
In moments of vulnerability, I feel lost and powerless.


The brightly colored moth
I lose my vibrancy and my spark.


Blends into the dirt into the ground
I become nothing, just another insignificant element of the world.


And it's me who's too weak
I am holding myself back from what I truly desire.


And it's me who's too shy
I lack the confidence to pursue my dreams and speak my mind.


To ask for the thing I love
I struggle to communicate my desires and passions.


That I love (6 times)
My passions and desires are a central part of who I am.


I am walking on the bridge
I am crossing a threshold or making a significant change.


I am over the water
I am embracing the unknown and taking risks.


And I'm scared as hell
I am terrified of the unknown and the potential for failure.


But I know there's something better
I am confident that my journey will bring me to a place of growth and fulfillment.


Yes I know there's something
I am aware that there is more to life than what I currently know.


Yes I know, I know, yes I know
I am affirming my own belief in my potential and my journey.


But it's me
I am the only one in control of my own destiny.


And it's me
I am the only one responsible for my own success and happiness.


But it's me (4 times)
I am the driving force behind my own life, and I have the power to create my own destiny.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREAS VOLLENWEIDER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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