Faith
The Weeknd
The Struggle for Solace in The Weeknd's 'Faith'
The Weeknd's song 'Faith' delves into the artist's personal battles with addiction, loneliness, and the search for meaning. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of self-medication and escapism, as The Weeknd describes using drugs to cope with the loss of faith in himself and his life's direction. The reference to 'lighting a blunt' and 'cocaine on a plate' suggests a descent into substance abuse, while 'Molly with the purple rain' could be an allusion to mixing drugs, with 'purple rain' potentially referencing Prince's song about pain and sorrow. The repetition of 'I lost my faith' underscores a sense of hopelessness and spiritual emptiness.
The chorus emphasizes the intensity of his emotions, feeling everything 'from my body to my soul,' which highlights the depth of his existential crisis. The Weeknd also touches on the irony of feeling most alone when coming down from a high, suggesting that the temporary escape provided by drugs leads to an even greater sense of isolation. The lyrics 'I've been sober for a year, now it's time for me to go back to my old ways' reveal a relapse into old habits, indicating a cycle of addiction and the difficulty of maintaining sobriety.
The song also explores themes of mortality and companionship. The Weeknd expresses a desire for someone to be with him in his darkest moments, even to the point of wanting someone to 'OD right beside me.' This chilling wish for shared self-destruction reflects a deep-seated fear of loneliness and a craving for connection, even in the face of death. The imagery of driving down a boulevard blinded by lights suggests a life lived in the fast lane, with fame and excess leading to a sense of disorientation and loss of direction.