Misery
Stacy Clark Lyrics


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In the spotlight
You never get cold
Under the knife
You never grow old
You're prettier and skinnier
And these things that misery bring

It was just yesterday
You were innocent
So innocent
The trouble that life brings
Don't you fall for it
Don't you fall

With happy pills
You shouldn't be upset
With sunshine
You shouldn't feel depressed
But feel good like you should
And see all these things
That city living bring

It was just yesterday
You were innocent
Just so innocent
The trouble that life brings
Don't you fall for it
Don't you fall

Stop, stop, stop
Drop, drop, drop

It was just yesterday
You were innocent
Just so innocent
The trouble that life brings
Don't you fall for it
Don't you fall

In the spotlight
You never get cold
Under the knife
You never grow old




You're prettier and skinnier
And these things that misery bring

Overall Meaning

At first listen, the lyrics to Stacy Clark's song "Misery" might seem to convey a celebration of the seemingly perfect life of a celebrity or the rich and famous. However, upon closer examination, the lyrics are laden with irony and speak to the false promises of beauty and youth prescribed by society. Opening with the lines "In the spotlight, you never get cold. Under the knife, you never grow old", the song alludes to the extreme measures some may take to maintain their looks and stay in the public eye. The line "You're prettier and skinnier and these things that misery bring" hints at the notion that people may suffer in order to fit society's standards of beauty.


The second verse seems to offer a solution to the problems facing those in the first verse; "With happy pills, you shouldn't be upset. With sunshine, you shouldn't feel depressed." However, the message here is also bitterly ironic. The idea that medication and sunlight are the keys to happiness signals a deeper widespread issue of the commercialization of 'wellness'. On further listening, it seems that the song is a warning against the dangers of these false solutions that hide the more profound issues faced by the modern world.


Overall, "Misery" is a beautiful and haunting song that carries an important, albeit complex message. While the lyrics themselves may seem simple, they are packed with meaning and confront societal issues that many people face daily.


Line by Line Meaning

In the spotlight
Being the center of attention


You never get cold
Feeling invincible and immune to hardship


Under the knife
Going through a change that seems to offer a solution


You never grow old
Avoiding facing the reality of aging


You're prettier and skinnier
Succumbing to societal pressure to meet unrealistic expectations of beauty


And these things that misery bring
Choosing to embrace self-destruction in exchange for fleeting external validation


It was just yesterday
Reflecting on how fast things can change


You were innocent
Not yet touched by the harsh realities of life


So innocent
Free from any kind of guilt or harm


The trouble that life brings
Understanding that life can be inherently difficult


Don't you fall for it
Resisting the pressure to conform to societal norms


With happy pills
Using medication to cover up underlying issues


You shouldn't be upset
Feeling guilty for not living up to the stigma that happiness is a choice


With sunshine
Believing that good weather can fix everything


You shouldn't feel depressed
Believing that one shouldn't feel sad if everything seems fine from outside


But feel good like you should
Taking care of oneself without succumbing to external pressures


And see all these things
Being more aware of the real world and its complexities


That city living brings
Realizing that there's more to life than what meets the eye


Stop, stop, stop
Telling oneself to break the cycle of self-destruction


Drop, drop, drop
Letting go of the facade and embracing vulnerability




Contributed by Elena W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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