My Old Pain

Asaf Avidan's song 'My Old Pain' delves into the complex relationship between an individual and their past traumas. The lyrics reveal a poignant narrative of someone who finds themselves repeatedly drawn back to their old wounds, almost as if they are in love with their pain. This cyclical return to suffering is described as a 'perpetual game,' suggesting a sense of inevitability and entrapment in one's own emotional turmoil.

The imagery in the song is rich and evocative. The 'weeping willow' and 'hungry waves' serve as metaphors for the protagonist's emotional state. The weeping willow, often associated with sorrow, dances in the breeze, symbolizing moments of fleeting happiness that are overshadowed by underlying sadness. Similarly, the 'hungry waves' represent the relentless nature of pain that keeps coming back, eroding the protagonist's sense of self. The plea to 'remind this broken shell it used to be a man' underscores a loss of identity and a yearning to reconnect with a time when life was simpler and more joyful.

Avidan's use of phrases like 'dressed to kill in my old skin' and 'primordial sin' adds layers of meaning to the song. 'Old skin' suggests a return to a former self, one that is perhaps more vulnerable and exposed. The 'primordial sin' could be interpreted as an inherent flaw or original wound that the protagonist cannot escape. This deep-seated pain is something they are intimately familiar with, almost to the point of comfort, despite its destructive nature.

The song also touches on themes of memory and identity. The repeated request to 'remind everybody that I smiled with ease' and 'guide me back home' indicates a desire to be remembered for who they were before the pain took over. It's a call to hold on to the essence of their true self, even as they navigate the stormy seas of their emotions.