heart attack

Cavetown's 'Heart Attack' delves into the complexities of anxiety, change, and the struggle to cope with overwhelming emotions. The song's lyrics paint a vivid picture of the artist's internal battles, using metaphors and imagery to convey feelings of helplessness and the desire for transformation. The opening lines, 'I thought of letting her out / She's a big brave girl now, I can't relate,' suggest a sense of detachment and the difficulty of relating to others who seem more capable or brave. This sets the tone for the rest of the song, where the artist grapples with feelings of inadequacy and the pressure to change.

The recurring imagery of measuring up against the wall symbolizes the constant self-assessment and the hope for change. The line 'It's always the same but maybe this time / I've changed' reflects the cyclical nature of these feelings and the persistent hope that things might be different this time. The mention of a cat that looks like Juno and the heart attack it induces highlights the intense emotional reactions to seemingly small triggers, a common experience for those dealing with anxiety.

The song also touches on the passage of time and missed opportunities, as seen in the lines 'Create a record-breaking ball of snow / Too big to catch it but I could if I had just reached out like half a year ago.' This evokes a sense of regret and the weight of what could have been. The chaotic imagery of 'Everybody's screaming, waving, fainting in the pit' contrasts with the artist's internal turmoil, emphasizing the disconnect between external chaos and internal struggle. The repeated refrain of 'I'm measuring up against the wall again' underscores the relentless nature of self-evaluation and the quest for change, culminating in the final plea, 'You'll have to drag me back, I can't do this again,' which poignantly captures the exhaustion and desperation felt by the artist.