She released her debut EP, "Teenage Angst", through Interscope Records in March 2020, which spawned the moderate hits "i drive me mad" and "idc". Her second EP, "off saint dominique" was released in June 2021 with discography highlights "wannabe" and "fall apart", the latter featuring peer hyperpop/indie pop artist glaive. Both releases have garnered over 18 million streams to date. Isenberg's debut studio album "Amelia" featuring collaborations with Travis Barker and aldn, was released in July 2022.
tastefully depressed
RENforshort Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Brown paper sandwich bags tied up
A note from your mother
Don't smoke on the school grounds
Water turns to vodka
Apple juice to rum
You kiss her on her neck
Then tell her to leave when you're done
She's fearful of losing
All the innocent excuses
Stop acting all oblivious
Your tastefully depressing me
Mickeys and hickeys
At sixteen your dreaming
Of pretty girls
In some irrelevant world
Now she's all alone
And your on your own
Water turns to vodka
Apple juice to rum
You kiss her on her neck
Then tell her to leave when you're done
She's fearful of losing
All the innocent excuses
Stop acting all oblivious
Your tastefully depressing me
Before you know her
She'll be gone
Swing sets at night
Cigarettes at dawn
Tastes so sweet
But it's almost gone
We're almost gone
In RENforshort's song "tastefully depressed," the lyrics paint a vivid picture of a tumultuous and emotionally charged relationship. The opening lines, "Bruised shins and playgrounds, Brown paper sandwich bags tied up, A note from your mother, Don't smoke on the school grounds," suggest a mix of innocence and rebellion. The singer reminisces about the carefree days of youth, filled with bruises from playing and sneaking forbidden cigarettes.
As the song progresses, the lyrics delve into the complexities of a romantic relationship. The imagery of "Water turns to vodka, Apple juice to rum" symbolizes the transformation from innocence to experimentation, from purity to intoxication. The intimate moment described with "You kiss her on her neck, Then tell her to leave when you're done" suggests a casual and potentially destructive dynamic, where one partner uses the other for temporary gratification.
The lyrics express the singer's frustration with the other person's behavior, saying, "She's fearful of losing, All the innocent excuses, Stop acting all oblivious, Your tastefully depressing me." This points to the other person's tendency to create excuses and disregard the emotional impact of their actions. The singer feels emotionally drained and subtly manipulated by this person's behavior, capturing the essence of being "tastefully depressed."
Through references to "Mickeys and hickeys" and daydreaming about "pretty girls in some irrelevant world," the song touches on the longing and fantasies that occur during adolescence. However, the final lines reveal a sense of impending loss and a fleeting sweetness that is slipping away, as the singer sings, "Before you know her, She'll be gone, Swing sets at night, Cigarettes at dawn, Tastes so sweet, But it's almost gone, We're almost gone."
Overall, "tastefully depressed" portrays a bittersweet and intense relationship, exploring themes of youthful indulgence, emotional detachment, and the fragility of romantic connections.
Line by Line Meaning
Bruised shins and playgrounds
Memories of childhood innocence and the pain that comes with growing up
Brown paper sandwich bags tied up
Symbolic representation of the monotony and mundanity of everyday life
A note from your mother
A reminder of parental guidance and care
Don't smoke on the school grounds
Warning against engaging in rebellious behavior and breaking rules
Water turns to vodka
The transformation of something pure and innocent into something intoxicating and dangerous
Apple juice to rum
The change from a harmless and sweet substance to a more adult and potent one
You kiss her on her neck
Engaging in physical intimacy and affection
Then tell her to leave when you're done
Treating someone as disposable, only valuing their presence temporarily
She's fearful of losing
Being afraid of losing someone or something important
All the innocent excuses
The lies and justifications used to maintain an appearance of innocence
Stop acting all oblivious
Stop pretending not to know or understand the consequences of your actions
Your tastefully depressing me
Your behavior and actions are subtly and artfully causing me emotional pain
Mickeys and hickeys
Indications of youthful experimentation and exploration
At sixteen your dreaming
Dreaming and fantasizing about the possibilities of love and romance at a young age
Of pretty girls
Being attracted to feminine beauty
In some irrelevant world
Immersed in a fantasy world that is not connected to reality
Now she's all alone
Feeling isolated and abandoned
And your on your own
Facing life's challenges and responsibilities without support
Before you know her
Before truly understanding or getting to know her
She'll be gone
She will leave and move on
Swing sets at night
Childhood memories of playing on swings in the darkness
Cigarettes at dawn
Indulging in harmful habits during a time of transition
Tastes so sweet
The initial pleasure and allure of a situation or relationship
But it's almost gone
But it is fleeting and on the brink of ending
We're almost gone
We, as individuals or a relationship, are nearly at an end
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jeffrey Hazin, Lauren Isenberg, Matthew Kahane
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
almostcherry
When you're kinda depressed and ironically enough a song entitled "tastefully depressed" helps you cope
brian cunningham
If I was a teenage girl I would so want that room. Really sets the mood. I think I might want it anyway. Great song REN
Almendra Krainz
Your music is honestly one of the best I've discovered
Oskrrrt
wow ur criminally underrated, your voice reminds me of Billie Eilish with a unique rock girl voice twist to it, I really hope fame finds you one day!
Lexi The Cat
Lets get you heard girly. Your voice is beautiful. These lyrics are exquisite. Im in love.
Brooklyn:)
REN deserves so much more hype 😍
Olias
this song is LITERALLY perfect 😭💕
Anime Stuff
I found my new artist for crying while drinking
Cloudi
I am actually obsessed with your songs. Like I keep repeating this but idk how to put it into words. I’ve been listening to your songs for maybe abt 2 years now, and listening to them 2 years after fill me with nostalgia. Your songs are criminally underrated and it’s actually crazy. Your songs hit so deep idk how to properly put it into words- it’s a masterpiece 💖
Alex Beilschmidt
So glad I discovered your songs! They are actually so tasteful..