Little Game

Benny's song 'Little Game' is a powerful critique of societal expectations and the rigid gender roles imposed on individuals. The lyrics vividly describe how society manipulates people, likening them to pawns in a game where they are forced to conform to predetermined roles. The opening lines, 'Play us like pawns and relentlessly confine / Into living up to gender roles and having absent minds,' set the tone for the song's exploration of how these roles stifle individuality and critical thinking.

The recurring chorus, 'Hush boy, oh, hush boy / Don’t say a word / Throw on a Jersey and no one gets hurt / Hush girl, oh, hush girl / Just bat your eyes / Play our little game, play our little game,' underscores the pressure to conform. Boys are told to be silent and fit into a stereotypical masculine mold, while girls are encouraged to be passive and pleasing. This repetition emphasizes the pervasive nature of these societal expectations and the harm they cause.

Benny also addresses the mental health consequences of these imposed roles, singing, 'You’re raising suicidals with your predetermined titles.' The song suggests that these rigid expectations lead to a 'land of the broken minds,' where individuals struggle with their identities and mental well-being. The lines 'We feign opulence just to get by / Put on false confidence just to feel alive' highlight the facade people maintain to cope with these pressures. Ultimately, 'Little Game' is a call to recognize and challenge these harmful norms, advocating for a society where individuals can express their true selves without fear of judgment or repression.