Drawing influences from female powerhouses like Julia Michaels, Lorde, and … Read Full Bio ↴Drawing influences from female powerhouses like Julia Michaels, Lorde, and Ariana Grande, rising pop artist OSTON is well on her way to making a name for herself. Her electro-pop hybrid is sure to make you feel good and dance around your room. OSTON’s newest single “Shrug” has already been streamed over 86,000 times on Spotify alone since its release at the end of April. The song has also gotten the attention of Radio Disney, and has been played over 100 times since being put into the radio station’s rotation a few weeks ago. We had the opportunity to chat with OSTON about her influences, writing “Shrug,” and being a guest performer on NBC’s “Songland”.

Music has been an essential part of my life since a very young age. Although neither of my parents are musicians, I grew up in a household that was always spinning something from The Beatles to Santana to the B52s on the record player. My brother and I would always put on little plays and shows for friends and family, and I would make up gibberish songs and recite them to anyone who would listen. So, when I was a little five-year-old kid, my mom helped set me up with singing lessons, and I could just tell that’s what I was supposed to do forever. I went off to college in Chicago to study music and marketing, met my amazing studio family that took me under their wing, and now I’m in LA doing this thing full time!

Mouthwash
oston Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Everybody else has good intentions, I′m just making bad decisions
Made a prison full of mirrors that I pointed at myself

Everybody else is really good at everything and come to think of it
I think I'm really bad at everything that I try out

And it′s such an ugly state
Yelling names at my reflections

But I like it that way (but I like it that way)
What a stupid little game
Doing drugs with my depression
But I like it that way
Yeah, I like it that way

So I told myself I'm better, but she wouldn't believe me
Bending over backward, so nobody could leave me
Think that I′d be better if I didn′t have feelings
Wish that I could turn 'em off

Fuck it

Fuck it

I was drinking coffee with my liquor
Playing chicken with my liver
Maybe someday it′ll catch up to me, hoping that it won't
I′ll invite my problems home for dinner
Overshare until we're bitter
I′m a loser, I'm a quitter, I can never let it go

So I told myself I'm better, but she wouldn′t believe me
Bending over backward, so nobody could leave me
Think that I′d be better if I didn't have feelings
Wish that I could turn ′em off and breathe a bit easy
Run around in circles 'til I think I could throw up
Super negative, I bite my tongue ′til it falls off
Talk a lot of shit and chase it down with some mouthwash

Fuck it

So I told myself I'm better, but she wouldn′t believe me
Bending over backward, so nobody could leave me
Think that I'd be better if I didn't have feelings
(Told myself I′m better, but she wouldn′t believe me)
Run around in circles 'til I think I could throw up
Super negative, I bite my tongue ′til it falls off

Talk a lot of shit and chase it down with some mouthwash
Talk a lot of shit and chase it down with some mouthwash

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Mouthwash" by Boston Manor delve into the singer's self-destructive tendencies and their struggle with feelings of inadequacy in comparison to others. The first verse highlights the singer's belief that everyone else has good intentions while they continuously make bad decisions. The line "Made a prison full of mirrors that I pointed at myself" suggests that the singer is trapped in their own negative self-image and cannot help but focus on their flaws. The second verse further emphasizes this by stating that the singer believes they are bad at everything they try out.

The chorus presents a conflicting view, where the singer admits to enjoying their self-destructive behavior. They yell names at their reflections and actively engage in doing drugs with their depression. However, the line "I told myself I'm better, but she wouldn't believe me" alludes to the fact that someone, likely a romantic partner or close friend, is aware of their self-destructive tendencies and has tried to help them overcome them.

The bridge of the song illustrates the extent of the singer's self-destructive tendencies, as they continue to abuse their body through excessive alcohol consumption and oversharing their problems with others. Despite recognizing their shortcomings, the singer cannot seem to let go of their toxic behavior.

In summary, "Mouthwash" showcases the inner conflict of someone struggling with their self-image and their inability to break free from their self-destructive habits.

Line by Line Meaning

Everybody else has good intentions, I'm just making bad decisions
While other people mean well, I struggle to make the right choices.

Made a prison full of mirrors that I pointed at myself
I constantly scrutinize myself and feel trapped in my own self-criticism.

Everybody else is really good at everything and come to think of it
Comparing myself to others, I realize how inadequate I feel.

I think I'm really bad at everything that I try out
No matter what I attempt, I feel like a failure in my own eyes.

And it's such an ugly state
My self-destructive behavior and negative thoughts are a dark place to be in.

Yelling names at my reflections
I insult myself and berate my own image in the mirror.

But I like it that way (but I like it that way)
As much as it hurts, I find comfort in my own misery and toxic patterns.

What a stupid little game
My destructive habits and negative self-talk are a pointless and foolish cycle.

Doing drugs with my depression
I abuse substances to try and cope with my mental health struggles.

But I like it that way
Despite the harm it causes me, I continue to lean on these unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Yeah, I like it that way
I am resigned to this negative pattern and feel like there is no other way for me to live.

So I told myself I'm better, but she wouldn't believe me
I try to convince myself that I can improve, but those around me are unconvinced.

Bending over backward, so nobody could leave me
I try to please others to avoid being abandoned or rejected.

Think that I'd be better if I didn't have feelings
I believe that my emotions are my downfall and wish I could turn them off.

Wish that I could turn 'em off
I long to be able to disconnect from my feelings and not have them control me.

Fuck it
I am fed up and have given up trying to improve.

I was drinking coffee with my liquor
I mix unhealthy substances in an attempt to numb my pain.

Playing chicken with my liver
I engage in risky behaviors that may have long-term consequences on my health.

Maybe someday it'll catch up to me, hoping that it won't
I am aware of the potential consequences of my actions, but hope that they won't come to fruition.

I'll invite my problems home for dinner
I dwell on my issues and invite them into my life.

Overshare until we're bitter
I discuss my problems in such detail that it damages my relationships and leaves me feeling worse.

I'm a loser, I'm a quitter, I can never let it go
I feel like a failure and struggle to move on from my past mistakes.

Run around in circles 'til I think I could throw up
I constantly pace in circles, feeling nauseous from my own self-destructive thoughts.

Super negative, I bite my tongue 'til it falls off
I suppress my own feelings and opinions, pushing myself deeper into a negative headspace.

Talk a lot of shit and chase it down with some mouthwash
I insult others and talk badly about them, trying to drown out my own negative thoughts with the taste of mouthwash.

Talk a lot of shit and chase it down with some mouthwash
I continue to engage in negative behavior and self-talk, using mouthwash as a symbol for my attempts to mask my problems.

Writer(s): Robert Andrew Polovick, Emily Harbakk, Austin Wolfe

Contributed by Carter O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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