air
Ryly Lyrics
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Under the city lights, they could go on forever
And now it feels like you're giving up
Feels like you're giving up slowly
And you say it's easy enough
Truth is that you don't even know me
I'm losing my grip, I'm out of my head
I'm burning down street lights, catching my breath
But I see the surface, I'm coming up for more air
Don’t recognize myself, I‘ve lost my own reflection
I think I wanted pain more than I want protection
But now it feels like I’m coming up
Feels like up coming up empty
And I pray that I’m strong enough
Truth is that I need you to help me
Can you help me
I'm losing my grip I'm out of my head
Im burning down street lights, catching my breath
It feels like I'm drowning, fading to black
But i see the surface, I'm coming up for more air
Was sinking into my doubt
But then I figured it out
The shit that you put me through
Was hanging onto the past cause I was willing to change for you
In Ryly's song "Air," the lyrics describe the singer's struggle between moving on from the past and holding onto their pain. The song opens with a sense of hope in the idea of "free fall in summer nights" and dreaming about the future under the city lights that "could go on forever." However, the singer's inner conflict quickly makes itself known as they express the feeling of giving up and losing their grip. They feel like they are drowning and fading to black, but they see the surface and continue to come up for more air.
Despite these struggles, the singer begins to recognize their own agency, admitting that they wanted pain more than they wanted protection but are now ready to come up empty and ask for guidance. They recognize that they need help and pray to be strong enough to move forward, acknowledging that they don't even know themselves at this point. The chorus repeats throughout the song, repeating the imagery of catching one's breath and resurfacing. The final verse suggests a turning point wherein the singer realizes that they were hanging onto the past because they were willing to change for someone else.
The theme of this song is resilience and perseverance despite inner turmoil, heartbreak, and uncertainty. It emphasizes the importance of seeking help and recognizing one's own agency while still acknowledging the need for support from others. The lyrics are introspective and vulnerable, allowing the artist to connect with listeners on a personal level.
Line by Line Meaning
Free fall in summer nights, dreaming about the future
In the summer nights, I am falling freely and dreaming about the things that the future holds.
Under the city lights, they could go on forever
The city lights are shining on me and it feels like they could go on forever.
And now it feels like you're giving up
I have this feeling that you are giving up on us.
Feels like you're giving up slowly
It appears to me that you are slowly giving up on our relationship.
And you say it's easy enough
You claim that it is simple enough to just move on.
Truth is that you don't even know me
In reality, you do not know who I am.
I'm losing my grip, I'm out of my head
I feel like I am losing control of everything and I am losing my mind.
I'm burning down street lights, catching my breath
I am feeling burned out and tired, but I am still trying to keep going.
It feels like I'm drowning, fading to black
I am struggling so much that it feels as though I am drowning and everything is turning black.
But I see the surface, I'm coming up for more air
Despite everything, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I am fighting to keep going for a breath of fresh air.
Don’t recognize myself, I‘ve lost my own reflection
I am struggling with my identity and I do not recognize who I have become.
I think I wanted pain more than I want protection
I have been seeking out pain more than I have wanted someone to protect me.
But now it feels like I’m coming up
I am starting to feel like things are starting to improve for me.
Feels like up coming up empty
It seems like I still have a long way to go, and I am feeling empty inside.
And I pray that I’m strong enough
I am praying that I have enough strength to make it through everything that I am going through.
Truth is that I need you to help me
The truth is that I need you to be there for me and help me through this.
Can you help me
Can you be the one to help me through this difficult time?
Was sinking into my doubt
I was beginning to lose faith in myself and in us as a couple.
But then I figured it out
But I have figured out what I need to do to keep going.
The shit that you put me through
The things that you have done to me have been incredibly difficult to deal with.
Was hanging onto the past cause I was willing to change for you
I was holding onto the past because I was willing to change myself for the sake of our relationship.
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Riley Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind