San Diego
Starlight Mints Lyrics

The lyrics of Starlight Mints’ “San Diego” evoke a strange and dreamlike quality, as if the events described are hallucinations or distorted memories. The first verse describes everyone leaving the water, perhaps suggesting that the singer is alone in the ocean while everyone else has abandoned it. The convertible with “lipstick portables” could be a symbol of femininity and glamour, contrasting with the singer’s sense of being “part horrible” and “part affordable.” The lyrics do not specify what these qualities entail, but they suggest a sense of self-loathing and insecurity.

The second verse describes the singer’s confusion as they encounter the beauty of San Diego. The “palm trees adorable” and the town “so explorable” suggest an idyllic vision of the city, but the repetition of “you’re part horrible / you’re part affordable” implies that there is some sense of ugliness or discomfort underlying the experience. The chorus reinforces this idea, suggesting that the singer’s journey to San Diego is driven both by the appealing qualities of the place and a need to escape feelings of self-rejection.

Overall, “San Diego” creates a vivid and disorienting world, where beauty and ugliness blend together in a surreal landscape. The song’s repeated phrases and ambiguous imagery create a sense of uncertainty and unease, while also evoking a kind of haunting nostalgia for a place that may never have existed.