Returning

Juice Webster's song 'Returning' delves into themes of self-discovery, loss, and the cyclical nature of emotions. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone grappling with their identity and the passage of time. The opening lines, 'I'm wild in the way I'm not there / My hair is falling out of my head,' suggest a sense of disconnection and physical manifestation of stress or change. The act of shaving one's head to be 'bare' symbolizes a desire to strip away the old and start anew, a common metaphor for rebirth and transformation.

The song's imagery, such as watching someone 'through a lens, like sunset,' evokes a sense of distance and longing. This perspective indicates a separation, possibly emotional or physical, from someone important. The line 'I like my hair the best when it’s wet / Reminds me of a place I’ll forget' hints at nostalgia and the bittersweet nature of memories. The wet hair could symbolize a moment of clarity or purity, contrasting with the forgetfulness that time brings.

Webster also touches on themes of mortality and imperfection with lines like 'At death there is a gate, I'm impure / I’ll never make it through the front door.' This suggests a struggle with self-worth and the fear of not being good enough. The recurring theme of mistakes and learning, 'Can’t help but make mistakes, we’re learning,' underscores the human condition of growth through error. The poignant line 'But in his face is you, returning' speaks to the enduring presence of a loved one, even in their absence, highlighting the cyclical nature of love and memory.

The song's conclusion, with the repetition of 'So I'm bare,' reinforces the theme of vulnerability and the shedding of past burdens. The imagery of the seaside and thrashing in high tide to 'trap the salt inside' further emphasizes the cleansing and transformative journey the narrator is on. Juice Webster's 'Returning' is a poignant exploration of the complexities of identity, memory, and emotional resilience.