When I'm Small
Phantogram Lyrics


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Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Lucy's underground
She's got a mouth to feed
Am I underground
Or am I in between

Lucy's underground
She's got a mouth to feed
Am I underground
Or am I in too deep

Show me love
You've got your hand on the button now
Showin' love
You've got your hand on the button now

Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh

Lucy's underground
She's never comin' back
Am I still alive
Or has the light gone black

Take me underground
Take me all the way
Bring me to the fire
Throw me in the flame

So, show me love
You've got your hands on the button now
Showin' love
You've got your hand on the button now

I'd rather die
I'd rather die
Than to be with you

Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh (than to be with you)
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh




Oh, oh, oh, oh (I'd rather die)
Oh, oh, oh, oh

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Phantogram's song "When I'm Small" introduce us to two characters: Lucy and the singer. Lucy is underground and has a mouth to feed, implying a struggle to survive. The singer questions whether they too are underground or in between, suggesting they may be in a similar situation. The repetition of the line "am I underground or am I in too deep" emphasizes the uncertainty of their situation.


As the song progresses, Lucy is described as never coming back while the singer questions if they are still alive or if the light has gone black. Despite this existential questioning, there is a desire for love and connection expressed through the repeated line "show me love, you've got your hand on the button now". This longing is juxtaposed with the final line "I'd rather die than be with you", which can be interpreted as rejecting a toxic relationship or as a commentary on the desperation of the situation.


Line by Line Meaning

Lucy's underground
Lucy is hidden away, below the surface


She's got a mouth to feed
Lucy has responsibility and obligations


Am I underground
Am I also hidden, whether from society or my own emotions?


Or am I in too deep
Have I gone too far and can't seem to turn back?


Show me love
Demonstrate compassion and kindness towards me


You've got your hand on the button now
You have the power to control the situation and outcome


Lucy's underground, She's never comin' back
Lucy has abandoned the situation or has passed on


Am I still alive, Or has the light gone black
Do I still have the will to live, or have I lost all hope?


Take me underground, Take me all the way
Bring me to an environment where I can hide and escape


Bring me to the fire, Throw me in the flame
Take me towards danger and turmoil instead of hiding from it


I'd rather die, Than to be with you
I would choose death over being with you




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Caleb Shreve, Joshua Carter, Sarah Bartchel

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@go-nogo1475

I'm like 50 years old, but 42 years ago, my Mom did the bravest, most terrifying, and deadly dangerous thing possible: she got us out of and abusive house with my birth father.

She still bears emotion scars, had jumpiness & anxiety without relief, and is overly-fixated on making sure I get home safe from my doctor's appointments & that on payday, I was sure to pay EVERY bill...but never overbearing. It's how he broke so much of her, she shows love this way.

I have my own issues, but have a psychiatrist, take my meds without fail, and been in weekly therapy for over 6 years now. Even at my age, healing can begin. But my Mom is my HERO. I can never tell her that, and why, because of what life was for us. What I can do is never get impatient with her irrational fears when they occur randomly 1 or 2 times a month, tell her how much I appreciate her looking out for me consistently, and we aren't...physically huggers...because of that stuff back then.

But you can show affection, my friends, by a real smile, with sincere eyes...when she can muster eye contact, but even that's improving slowly over time, even 4+ decades after getting us out. Not that that didn't leave court case, horrific actions by him, and continued attempts at violence & intimidation. But she didn't flinch ever then. My Mom, regardless of what scars she carries, will always be the perfect Mom for me.

I like myself now, over 40+ years and weekly therapy for nearly 7 years, and meds...and I can show her that, which is the greatest, AND ONLY, gift she has ever asked me for. She doesn't like to receive gifts, she feels it's too expensive, or that she wouldn't merit them (though no self-conscious word or those sorts has ever left her mouth!) She says only one thing of him: without him, there'd be no Me. So no matter what, it was all worth it. All of it. Just because she could do right by me as a parent, he couldn't, and I didn't deserve that life (never mentions herself the same way, though it was undoubtedly worse for her than me!)

SOOO...yeah, Phantogram is both to my music taste, but greater still, they give my Mom a Voice she could never, nor would seek out, for herself.

tl;dr: Tough, read it or don't!



@hmmmm4193

When I'm Small / Phantogram
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Lucy's underground
She's got a mouth to feed
Am I underground
Or am I in between

Lucy's underground
She's got a mouth to feed
Am I underground
Or am I in too deep

Show me love
You've got your hand on the button now
Showin' love
You've got your hand on the button now

Oh, oh, oh, oh,
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh

Lucy's underground,
She's never comin' back
Am I still alive
Or has the light gone black

Take me underground
Take me all the way
Bring me to the fire
Throw me in the flame

So, show me love
You've got your hands on the button now
Showin' love
You've got your hand on the button now

I'd rather die,
I'd rather die,
Than to be with you

Oh, oh, oh, oh,
Oh, oh, oh, oh, (than to be with you)
Oh, oh, oh, oh,
Oh, oh, oh, oh,
Oh, oh, oh, oh,
Oh, oh, oh, oh,
Oh, oh, oh, oh (I'd rather die)
Oh, oh, oh, oh

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Caleb Shreve / Joshua Carter / Sarah Bartchel
When I'm Small lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.



All comments from YouTube:

@susiwimmershoff5451

2024 anyone?

@purifieddrinkingwater6036

always

@luzantonio7761

Me, good music never died!!!

@SterlingBall

Barely

@cdiperri2009

Right here

@adventures3609

Yuppp❤

4 More Replies...

@aguilasfan96

I was taking a shower and this song randomly came back in my head after 4 years, and I am so glad I recovered this core memory

@samberlyrocks

It popped up on pandora while in the shower today! Had to find it

@emilyfox6288

Honestly its always in the damn shower too on god. You are not alone on that lol

@GoatyHerps

Core Memory

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