Salt
Bad Suns
The Struggle for Identity in Bad Suns' 'Salt'
Bad Suns' song 'Salt' delves deep into the theme of identity and the struggle to find one's true self. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone feeling trapped in a life that doesn't feel like their own, as expressed in the lines 'Stuck inside of the wrong frame / I don't feel attached to this name.' This sense of disconnection and the quest for self-reclamation is a central theme, with the protagonist yearning to see themselves with 'different eyes and no shame.' The song captures the internal conflict and the desire to break free from societal expectations and personal doubts.
The chorus, with its powerful imagery of running and screaming until exhaustion, symbolizes the intense effort and frustration involved in this personal journey. The repeated line 'These memories are nothing to me just salt' suggests that past experiences and memories, which might have once held significance, now only serve as painful reminders of a life built on falsehoods. This metaphor of salt in the wound highlights the ongoing pain and the difficulty of moving past these memories.
The song also touches on the theme of reality and truth, questioning how one can grasp reality without a clear sense of identity. The protagonist's struggle is further emphasized by their feeling of isolation, as they declare, 'Who, who can I look to 'cause I'm not like you, you / And I don't believe in the truth, truth.' This sense of alienation and the rejection of perceived truths underscore the deep existential crisis at the heart of the song. 'Salt' is a poignant exploration of the pain and confusion that comes with trying to find one's true self in a world that often imposes rigid identities and expectations.