Hurt Feelings
[Verse 1]
My dad is almost home, I can't tell time yet but I know
Recalls childhood memories of sensing her father’s arrival through subtle changes, even without understanding time.
Because the air becomes electric and my mother cleans the stove
Hints at tension, suggesting her mother prepares the house, possibly out of apprehension or habit.
He'll walk in through the door and both my eyes will find the floor
Conveys a sense of fear or submissiveness, as if avoiding eye contact to steer clear of conflict.
And I will search my brain to find something I might get yelled at for
Describes the anxiety of anticipating reprimand, feeling as if she is always at fault.
He'll come in with a frown and tell me, "Sit your ass right down"
Details her father’s stern demeanor, possibly reflecting a volatile environment.
Or he might get his kicks from joking that he's just playin' around
Indicates unpredictability, where harshness may sometimes be disguised as humor, adding to her confusion.
And in a few years I will leave, but I'll perpetually believe
Foreshadows leaving home, yet suggests these experiences leave lasting scars.
That any man who says he loves me is hidin' somethin' up his sleeve
Reveals how her relationship with her father influences her mistrust in romantic relationships, expecting deceit.
[Chorus]
Wash me in the water
Symbolizes purification, as if she wants to cleanse herself of past trauma.
You can cut off all of my hair
Suggests a radical transformation, shedding layers of identity tied to her past.
And I'll be changin' like the weather
Embraces change, showing a desire to evolve beyond past experiences.
But I'll never be like him
Resolves not to adopt her father’s behavior, committing to be different.
[Verse 2]
The other girls date older guys and wear their T-shirts late at night
Observes others in relationships, possibly longing for normalcy while maintaining her independence.
But everything I own that's oversize belongs to me, it's mine
Indicates her self-reliance, emphasizing independence and personal space.
And I don't have souvenirs of all the earliest of years
Suggests a lack of sentimental or positive memories from her early life, which she may wish to leave behind.
You know my father isn't dead, but it don't feel like he's still here
Feels a disconnect from her father, as if he’s absent emotionally or spiritually.
It's strange now that he's grey and getting older by the day
Reflects on her father aging, acknowledging the vulnerability of time.
And my eyes tell me that he's harmless despite what my heart has to say
Feels conflicted; her rational side sees her father as less threatening, but emotional scars remain.
[Pre-Chorus]
So maybe just forget
Maybe move on, don't regret
Considers leaving the past behind without dwelling on what happened.
Or maybe this is just another trick
That hasn't happened yet
Questions whether trying to forgive and forget might be deceiving herself about the depth of her pain.
[Chorus]
Wash me in the water
You can cut off all of my hair
And I'll be changin' like the weather
But I'll never be like him
[Refrain]
'Cause blood is thick but water is forever
Notes the strength of chosen bonds, implying that while family is binding, true connection comes from personal choice.
And I'm stiffer than a board, lighter than a feather
Describes a feeling of resistance and vulnerability, embodying both fragility and strength.
And that girl will be a problem only if you let her
References her younger self, acknowledging her challenges but affirming they’re manageable with growth.
And I left her back home but I cannot forget her
Indicates an attempt to move forward from her past but admits that those memories remain significant.
[Bridge]
I thought that it was my fault
Reflects on childhood feelings of self-blame for her family dynamics.
And now sometimes I still do
Admits that self-blame lingers, affecting her even in adulthood.
You didn't chase me through the park
So now I'm, chasin' after you
Uses a metaphor of abandonment, suggesting she now seeks connection to fill that void.
But I can't keep up the illusion
Or confirm your point of view
Recognizes the impossibility of sustaining a false narrative or agreeing with her father’s outlook on life.
Oh, I can't bear to fake a smile when you walk into the room
Expresses her struggle to pretend happiness around her father, unable to mask her true feelings.
[Refrain]
'Cause blood is thick but water is forever
And I'm stiffer than a board, lighter than a feather
And that girl will be a problem only if you let her
And I left her back home but I cannot forget her
[Chorus]
Wash me in the water
You can cut off all of my hair
And I'll be changin' like the weather
But I'll never be like him
[Refrain]
'Cause blood is thick but water is forever
And I'm stiffer than a board, lighter than a feather
And that girl will be a problem only if you let her
And I left her back home but I cannot forget her
Ends with the refrain, reinforcing her commitment to move forward while recognizing the inescapable impact of her past.
