It Gets Better
Travis Meadows Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They say it's supposed to happen
If I do what they say I need to do
I ain't too good at waiting
I'm even worse at praying
I'm a hard sell even when I know the truth
They say it gets better
Maybe I just heard wrong all together
Read a book, call a friend, get a day, try again
Three days feels like forever
Last time, I bout made seven
That's enough right there to make want to drink
What in the hell do I think I'm doin'
Who do I think I'm foolin'
That's what I get every time I try to think
They say it gets better
But I don't see no change in the rainy weather
Maybe I just heard wrong all together
Read a book, call a friend, get a day, try again
If I can just get home without stoppin'
Get inside my door and lock it
Read a book, call a friend, go to bed, maybe I'll be better then
Travis Meadows's song "It Gets Better" is a raw and honest account of the struggles of dealing with depression, addiction, and the road to recovery. In the first verse, Meadows expresses his frustration with the idea of waiting for a magical solution to his problems. He acknowledges that he is not good at waiting and praying, and even when he knows the truth, he is a hard sell. The second verse gives insight into his battles with addiction, and the feelings of hopelessness that can come with trying to overcome it. Meadows speaks to the feeling of wanting to give up and escape with alcohol, but knowing that it will not help him in the long run.
The chorus of the song speaks to the idea that things will get better, but Meadows does not see any change in his situation. He suggests ways to cope with his struggles, such as reading a book, calling a friend, taking a day off, and trying again. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the ongoing struggle and the need to keep trying.
Overall, "It Gets Better" is a poignant reminder that recovery is not a linear path, and there will be setbacks along the way. However, it also speaks to the importance of perseverance and the support of friends and loved ones.
Line by Line Meaning
I keep waiting on the magic
Travis is waiting for something extraordinary to happen to change his life
They say it's supposed to happen
Travis has been by told others that his life should improve
If I do what they say I need to do
Travis has been given advice on how to improve his life, but he struggles to follow it
I ain't too good at waiting
Travis doesn't have much patience
I'm even worse at praying
Travis doesn't find much comfort in prayer
I'm a hard sell even when I know the truth
Even when he knows what's best for himself, Travis struggles to follow through
They say it gets better
Others have told Travis that his life will improve
But I don't see no change in the rainy weather
Despite what others have told him, Travis hasn't seen any real improvement in his life
Maybe I just heard wrong all together
Travis questions whether he misinterpreted the advice he was given
Read a book, call a friend, get a day, try again
Travis is given a list of suggestions for how to improve his life
Three days feels like forever
Travis struggles with the passage of time and feels like his problems won't ever go away
Last time, I bout made seven
Travis has attempted to make changes before but has struggled to stick to them for long
That's enough right there to make want to drink
Travis is tempted to drink alcohol as a way to cope with his problems
What in the hell do I think I'm doin'
Travis questions the decisions he's made in his life
Who do I think I'm foolin'
Travis realizes that he's not fooling anyone, especially himself
If I can just get home without stoppin'
Travis is having a difficult time and just wants to go home and be alone
Get inside my door and lock it
Travis wants privacy to deal with his problems
Read a book, call a friend, go to bed, maybe I'll be better then
Travis has a few strategies that he hopes might help him feel better, even if only temporarily
Contributed by Riley T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bill Sturgeon
on Learning How To Live Alone
Love this song. It feels like it hits home for so many!