Martyr (Waves)

Polaris' song 'Martyr (Waves)' delves deep into the internal struggles and emotional turmoil of the narrator. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a person grappling with their identity and the expectations placed upon them. The opening lines, 'I've been a liar, been a thief, been a fool for you,' set the tone for a confession of past mistakes and the roles the narrator has played, both willingly and unwillingly. This admission of guilt and the subsequent declaration of having 'nothing left to prove' suggests a sense of exhaustion and resignation.

The recurring metaphor of waves is central to the song's theme. Waves, which 'break upon the sand' and 'drown this broken man,' symbolize the relentless and overwhelming nature of the narrator's emotions and experiences. These waves represent the cyclical nature of their struggles, coming and going but never truly disappearing. The line 'It comes in waves, to drown this broken man' highlights the suffocating effect of these emotions, leaving the narrator feeling broken and defeated.

The song also touches on the theme of being used or manipulated, as seen in the lines 'And it's so confusing, the way you're using me / To speak the words that you lack the strength to say.' This suggests a relationship where the narrator feels exploited, forced to express emotions and thoughts that are not entirely their own. The final lines, 'I've been a giver, but I've given all I can to you,' encapsulate the narrator's sense of depletion and the realization that they can no longer continue in this manner. 'Martyr (Waves)' is a poignant exploration of self-conflict, emotional exhaustion, and the struggle to maintain one's identity amidst external pressures.