Cool
troye sivan. Lyrics
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Pools and swimming
Drinks in bars and
Boys in cars and
Rooftop sinning
Skinny dipping
Shooting stars
With fat cigars even
And that weekend up in the islands
They stop and stare
Flashes filling the silence
Of a Hollywood love affair
Waking up in the islands
'Cause I saw you there
Lost and trying to be
I was just trying to be cool
I was just trying to be like you
I'm a spark and you're a boom
What am I supposed to do?
Mansion debut
Love it, do you?
Absent father
Pays his daughter
And her mama withdrew
From the life they once knew
She had a heart
But she sold it off for
And that weekend up in the islands
They stop and stare
Flashes filling the silence
Of a Hollywood love affair
Waking up in the islands
'Cause I saw you there
Lost and trying to be
I was just trying to be cool
I was just trying to be like you
I'm a spark and you're a boom
What am I supposed to do?
When I've got that cigarette smoke
And Saint Laurent coat, but nothing is feeling right
I drink but I choke
I love but I don't
I was just trying to be cool
I was just trying to be like you
I was just trying to be cool
I was just trying to be like you
I'm a spark and you're a boom
What am I supposed to do?
When I've got that cigarette smoke
And Saint Laurent coat, but nothing is feeling right
I drink but I choke
I love but I don't
I was just trying to be cool
I was just trying to be like you
The lyrics to "COOL" by Troye Sivan are a commentary on the glamorous lifestyle of the rich and famous, and the pressure to emulate that lifestyle even when it feels hollow and unfulfilling. The first verse lists off the superficial trappings of this lifestyle - pools, drinks, boys in cars, etc. - while the chorus reveals the singer's self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy. He sings, "I was just trying to be cool / I was just trying to be like you / I'm a spark and you're a boom / What am I supposed to do?" Here, the singer is admitting that he feels overshadowed by the people he's trying to impress, and that he doesn't quite know how to match their energy and success.
The second verse shifts the focus to a specific character, a woman who has sacrificed her own heart and soul to live a life of luxury with an absent father's money. The lines "She had a heart / But she sold it off for" imply that her fancy lifestyle has come at a cost - perhaps her happiness, or her sense of self-worth. The chorus repeats again, underscoring the theme of feeling lost and inadequate even in the midst of opulence.
Overall, "COOL" can be interpreted as a critique of the idea that wealth and fame automatically lead to happiness and fulfillment, and a reminder that it's important to stay true to yourself rather than trying to keep up with other people's expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweet life livin'
Living a life of luxury and indulgence
Pools and swimming
Enjoying recreational swimming
Drinks in bars and
Drinking in bars and nightclubs
Boys in cars and
Being driven around with boys in cars
Rooftop sinning
Indulging in hedonistic activities on rooftops
Skinny dipping
Swimming naked
Shooting stars
Watching meteor showers
With fat cigars even
Smoking cigars as a form of indulgence
And that weekend up in the islands
A memorable weekend spent on an island
They stop and stare
People pause and stare in awe
Flashes filling the silence
Cameras flashing continually
Of a Hollywood love affair
A romantic relationship that feels like it's out of a movie
Waking up in the islands
Waking up on the island
'Cause I saw you there
Seeing someone special on the island
Lost and trying to be
Feeling confused and trying to maintain appearances
I was just trying to be cool
Trying hard to be perceived as trendy and fashionable
I was just trying to be like you
Trying to emulate someone the artist admires
I'm a spark and you're a boom
Feeling small and insignificant compared to someone else
What am I supposed to do?
Feeling lost and uncertain of one's place in life
Mansion debut
A lavish party to celebrate moving into a mansion
Love it, do you?
Asking someone's opinion about the mansion
Absent father
A father who is not around
Pays his daughter
Sending money to his daughter
And her mama withdrew
The mother is distant and uninvolved in the daughter's life
From the life they once knew
A past life that is no longer recognized
She had a heart
The daughter had feelings and emotions
But she sold it off for
But she relinquished her heart for something else
When I've got that cigarette smoke
Feeling lost despite having material possessions
And Saint Laurent coat, but nothing is feeling right
Despite having fashionable clothes, something still feels empty
I drink but I choke
Drinking alcohol makes the singer feel suffocated
I love but I don't
The singer has difficulty maintaining a fulfilling romantic relationship
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALEX HOPE, TROYE MELLET
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind