Listen To Your Friends

Declan McKenna's song 'Listen To Your Friends' delves into the complexities of trust and communication within personal relationships, while also weaving in a sharp critique of societal issues. The opening lines, 'Don't call me out / 'Cause I heard you scream,' set a tone of reluctance and emotional fatigue. The narrator expresses a desire to avoid conflict and a sense of disillusionment, suggesting a strained relationship where trust is in short supply. This theme is further emphasized with the repeated plea, 'Please trust in me,' highlighting a yearning for mutual understanding and faith.

The chorus, 'I bet you only listen to your friends,' underscores the frustration of feeling unheard and undervalued. The narrator grapples with the idea that their partner is more influenced by external opinions than by their own words. This sentiment is compounded by the lines, 'You tell me what I want to know / And I'll feel better for it,' which reveal a complex interplay of honesty and comfort. The narrator acknowledges the difficulty of expressing love consistently, 'I love you every other day,' and the fear of losing emotional connection, 'You pour my heart away.'

In the latter part of the song, McKenna shifts focus to broader societal critiques. He addresses issues such as economic inequality, 'The problem is poor kids / Who want holidays in term time,' and the failures of social systems, 'The problem is welfare / The problem is free healthcare.' These lines reflect a deep cynicism about the state of the world, where solutions often exacerbate the problems they aim to solve. The juxtaposition of personal and societal struggles in the song creates a rich tapestry of discontent and a call for deeper introspection and change. McKenna's lyrical style, blending personal vulnerability with social commentary, invites listeners to reflect on both their intimate relationships and the larger world around them.