How Are You?

Dylan Brady's song "How Are You?" delves into the emotional turmoil of encountering an ex-lover who seems to have moved on effortlessly. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a chance meeting where the protagonist is struck by the sight of their former partner, triggering a flood of unresolved feelings. The opening lines, "You were walkin’ in while I was walkin’ out / I know I should be bulletproof by now," set the stage for a poignant exploration of vulnerability and lingering heartache. Despite the passage of time, the protagonist is still deeply affected by the breakup, as evidenced by the metaphor of taking a bullet to the heart upon seeing their ex's face.

The song's chorus is a series of rhetorical questions that highlight the protagonist's disbelief and confusion over their ex's apparent happiness and ability to move on. Lines like "How are you better than you’ve ever been? / How are you not dyin’ just a little bit?" underscore the protagonist's struggle to understand how their ex can seem so unaffected while they themselves are still grappling with the pain of the breakup. This contrast between the ex's outward composure and the protagonist's inner turmoil is a central theme of the song, emphasizing the disparity in their emotional states.

Throughout the song, the protagonist masks their true feelings, opting to bite their tongue and smile rather than confront their ex with their lingering questions and emotions. This act of pretending, captured in the lines "Play the part and said everything I'm supposed to / Pretendin’ every part of me didn’t want to ask you," speaks to the universal experience of hiding one's pain to maintain social decorum. The repeated refrain of "How are you?" serves as both a literal question and a metaphor for the deeper, unspoken inquiries about love, loss, and the process of moving on. Dylan Brady's heartfelt delivery and relatable lyrics make "How Are You?" a poignant reflection on the complexities of post-breakup emotions.