So Many Planets

St. Vincent's song "So Many Planets" delves into the existential quest for identity and belonging amidst a backdrop of chaos and disillusionment. The opening lines, "Misfiring chemicals and scary ideas," set the tone for a journey through a tumultuous mental landscape. The mention of a revolution that isn't fun and feeling out of fashion suggests a struggle against societal norms and expectations. The imagery of dropping promises like H-bombs conveys a sense of broken commitments and the destructive impact they can have, yet the refrain to keep calm hints at a desire for resilience.

The recurring motif of being at the back of one's head, watching life unfold, evokes a sense of detachment and introspection. This detachment is further emphasized by the imagery of a sink filling with red, symbolizing a passive acceptance of life's bleeding moments. The protagonist's journey to visit so many planets before finding their own is a metaphor for the search for a place or state of being where they truly belong. Falling asleep on the golden highway suggests moments of respite or escape in the midst of this ongoing quest.

The character of the hemorrhaging heartthrob with a six-pack of beer introduces a figure who, despite their trauma, finds solace in the presence of others. This character's burned-out window and lack of a smile, yet happiness at someone's presence, reflect the complex interplay between pain and connection. The song's repetitive la-la-la refrain towards the end adds a haunting, almost hypnotic quality, underscoring the cyclical nature of the search for belonging and the elusive nature of finding one's place in the universe.