Better Strangers

Royal Blood's 'Better Strangers' delves into the depths of emotional desolation and the struggle to cope with abandonment and betrayal. The song opens with a stark admission of emptiness, as the narrator confesses to feeling a profound low and a heart devoid of love. This sets the tone for a narrative steeped in pain and disillusionment, where the protagonist grapples with the aftermath of being left by someone they depended on deeply. The repeated refrain of 'hollow' underscores the pervasive sense of emptiness and the futile attempts to fill the void left by the departed loved one.

The lyrics paint a vivid picture of familial and relational betrayal, with references to a brother who 'beat me blue' and a sister who 'bled me dry.' These lines suggest a history of being let down by those closest to the narrator, compounding their sense of isolation and mistrust. The plea for the person not to 'follow' highlights a desire to distance oneself from further emotional harm, even as the narrator acknowledges the lingering attachment and the difficulty of severing ties completely.

The chorus introduces the concept of becoming 'better strangers,' a poignant metaphor for the need to create emotional distance to protect oneself from further pain. By making a 'better stranger' of the person who caused them harm, the narrator seeks to place themselves 'a thousand miles from danger,' emphasizing the necessity of detachment for self-preservation. This theme of self-protection and the struggle to move on from toxic relationships resonates deeply, capturing the universal experience of seeking solace and safety in the face of emotional turmoil.