Alterlife
Rina Sawayama Lyrics

How many lies must I become
Rina questions how many lies she must construct and maintain to deviate from her current path

To get to a place off the track?
She wonders if lying is the only way to change directions from the path she's currently on

In our pursuit of number one
Rina identifies that everyone is competing fiercely to be the best

Everybody's racing harder for the pass
In this race for success, everyone is struggling to outshine each other to make progress

(You were the one)
Perhaps reminiscing about someone who motivated her previously

Cos she was the girl that I used to be
Rina admits that there was a girl in the past who she used to be like

A girl with no responsibility
She used to be without any significant responsibilities

Became the armour that I hid behind
Rina admits to using the girl she used to be as a shield to protect herself

... You like what you see?
As if talking to someone else, Rina asks if the person likes the facade she has presented

Why are you so scared of falling?
Rina questions why someone is so afraid of failing or making mistakes

(Hold your head up high)
Instructing to stand tall and not be ashamed to be seen

Why do you hold on? Stop mourning
Urging someone to let go of their sorrows and pain

(Rise and redefine)
Aspire to strive bigger and better, and redefine who you are

When you begin to feel it
Rina talks about feeling a certain way

You know what to do
She assures that, when someone starts to feel that way, they'll understand what to do

So go and find it
She encourages to go and search for that impulse

This is your alterlife
The life you live now, after finding what you have been looking for, is your 'Alterlife'

Don't stop for any red blue light
Advising not to halt even when unexpected obstacles, depicted metaphorically as traffic signals, come to pass

The moment will fade underneath
This temporary momentary event is only a fading instance in the bigger picture

Keep on the road and don't lose sight
Focus on your destination and don't deviate

Everybody's waiting for you to arrive
There are people cheering for your success and waiting for you to reach your goals

(You were the one)
Perhaps she is referring to her past self again

Cos she was the girl that I used to be
Rina confirms that the girl she mentioned in the previous line is indeed someone she used to be like

A girl with no responsibilities
This girl she used to be was a lot less accountable

Breaking the armour that I hid behind
Rina is starting to break away from her safe space

I'm not what you see
Revealing that she is not who she had covered herself up to be

You are who you are
Acknowledging that whoever you are, no matter what the pain, pleasure, and everything in between, is you

All of the pain and pleasure is you
Confirming that every aspect of yourself, both good and bad, is entirely you

Although life is hard
Even though life can be arduous and trying at times

Deep in the centre unshaken stands true
You will always be you at your core, unfazed by the surrounding circumstances

This is my
Announcing that this life, the one full of complexities and flaws, is her

(Alterlife, alterlife, alterlife)
The life after arriving at the destination

You know what to do
Acknowledging that, after going through the process, you will understand the next steps

(Alterlife, alterlife, alterlife)
Repeating the same phrase as above

And all this time been tryin
Admitting that so far, every effort has been given to make a change

Looking in the wrong place at the wrong time
Realizing that the efforts taken until this point have been misguided

(And now you're done)
Acknowledging that it's all finished now

The girl inside is healing
Rina realizes that she is beginning to reconcile with the girl she used to be

You know what to do now that you've found it
Assuring herself that she knows exactly what to do now that she has found the thing she was searching for

Live in your alterlife!
Encouraging herself to start living in her 'Alterlife' beginning today.