Starts With One

Shiny Toy Guns' song 'Starts With One' delves into the complexities of emotional numbness and the struggle to reconnect with one's feelings. The lyrics begin with the line 'Starts with one,' suggesting the initial step in a journey or process. The singer expresses an inability to feel, stating 'I can't feel, it's all in your mind anyway,' which hints at a sense of detachment and perhaps a belief that emotions are merely mental constructs. This detachment is further emphasized with 'I can't heal, make me feel this way,' indicating a desire for emotional healing but an inability to achieve it.

As the song progresses, the numbers increase, symbolizing a gradual but challenging journey towards emotional awakening. 'Now there's two I can't see, I've never felt this way' suggests a growing awareness of emotions, yet still being unable to fully grasp or understand them. The repetition of 'I can't feel anything anyway' underscores the persistent numbness. The chorus, 'Let's show them the only way, let's show them our hearts,' serves as a call to action, urging a display of genuine emotion as a means to connect and heal.

The song's climax with 'Only three I can't seem to get enough anyway' and 'I can't speak, nothing to say anyway' reflects a deeper struggle with expression and communication. The lines 'Distorted light moves in, or am I mistaken?' and 'It feels so cold...' evoke a sense of confusion and isolation. The closing lines, 'There goes today, it slowly fades...slowly fades away' and 'Here comes today, never go...never go away,' suggest a cyclical nature of emotional experiences, where each day brings a new opportunity for emotional growth and connection, yet also the risk of fading back into numbness.