Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “If You Can’t Swim” by Cheap Girls
Cheap Girls’ song ‘If You Can’t Swim’ offers a frank and candid look into the raw emotions of the singer. With a mix of melancholic and uplifting musical elements, the track is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of perseverance in the face of difficulty.
The song opens with brooding verses that explore the singer’s state of mind. He reveals his feelings of powerlessness, fear, and exhaustion, and expresses his desire to escape from the trappings of the current moment. Despite this sense of hopelessness, the singer still holds onto a glimmer of hope that things will eventually turn around. He recognizes that he is strong enough to fight through his current struggles, but that he has to remain focused on his goals: “If you can’t swim, just keep kicking / Until you get something you can grab on to.”
The chorus builds off these themes, as the singer encourages himself to keep pushing forward in spite of his doubts and fears. He is tired and hurting, but knows that he still has the strength to make it through: “Don’t worry if you’re sinking down / You still can make it on your own.” Through these repeated affirmations, the singer is able to find a renewed sense of focus and determination to keep going: “If you can’t swim, then take the time to lean.”
At its core, ‘If You Can’t Swim’ is a reminder that no matter how hard the journey gets, you always have the power to push through and reach the other side. With soothing yet rousing instrumentation, the song evokes a feeling of perseverance – even in the face of our biggest struggles, there is still hope.