Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: folk
Song Meaning of “We Are Fine” by Sharon Van Etten
“We Are Fine” by Sharon Van Etten is a song about personal healing and resilience. The lyrics reflect the idea of a person needing to process a painful experience in order to emerge stronger and more resilient.
The song begins with the lines “I keep it all in the dark. I keep it all in my head.” This suggests that the person has been taking all of their struggles and hardships and keeping them hidden away internally, and they have not been sharing their experiences with anyone else. This also may point to a state of denial or not wanting to deal with the difficulties of getting through the pain on one’s own.
The chorus carries through with this thought, with the words “We are fine, always, what else you gonna do?” This could represent the struggle to come to terms with their own inner pain and beginning the process of accepting it and finding strength in it. There’s the secret hope that it might be possible to come out on the other side with a renewed sense of self.
The next line in the chorus, “We won’t be so blind, though we try to hide,” also speaks to this idea of denying the impact and difficulties of the pain carried. There is a reliance on internal strength to survive the hardships and come out the other side with renewed strength and potential.
The bridge further reinforces this theme of resilience and perseverance in the face of hardship. “I see it in you, now I know the truth, I will show you how and never be scared of you,” these lyrics suggest that after coming to understand and confront their inner pain, the person has grown closer to being able to help another person who is also dealing with pain and to provide them with the courage to traverse their hardships.
“We Are Fine” speaks to the truth of healing and overcoming hardship and strengthening oneself through the process. It’s a song about finding strength in the struggles, transcending pain, and helping others to do the same.