Oxbow
Waxahatchee Lyrics

The lyrics of "Oxbow" by Waxahatchee is a poetic representation of how our dreams can become trivial and monotonous as we grow older. The opening lines of the song, "Barna in white, Married the night" implies that the singer is reflecting on a past event or a memory that she's trying to reconcile with her present self. The following lines, "What dreams become concrete, they may feel trite, Makes a dull mind" suggest that the singer is acknowledging how her ambitions and aspirations have taken a concrete shape over time, losing the luster and excitement that they once held. The phrase "Makes a dull mind" exemplifies the singer's sense of disillusionment and stagnancy in her life.

The subsequent lines, "Well, I'll give it all to you for a while, that's fine, a speck in the oxbow..." express the singer's willingness to let go of her dreams or perhaps her sense of self, for a little while, in order to find solace in the mundanity of life. The phrase "a speck in the oxbow" refers to a small, insignificant part of a larger entity, and, in the context of the song, it may represent the singer's perception of herself. The line "Depressing by design" reinforces the sense of despair that the singer feels, hinting at how the ability to give up on one's aspirations can be both comforting and disheartening.

The chorus, "I want it all, all, I want it all" is a lament of the singer's desire to regain her sense of agency, and reclaim the passion and drive that she's lost. The repetition of the phrase "I want it all" is like a mantra that the singer keeping repeating to herself, as if to remind herself of the urgency and significance of her dreams.