![]() ![]() ![]() The second verse addresses external concerns for such self-inflicted distress when an unnamed caller phones Styles, telling him he’s “no good alone,” before asking him, “What kind of pills are you on?” Masked by upbeat synths and the “Take On Me”-esque melody, Styles’ melancholy lyrics reveal his pitiful state at a time where he must learn to let go of the past and reckon with the daunting nature of the present. The crushing weight of “gravity holdin’ back,” prevents him from living in the present, leading him to wallow in loneliness. In his record-breaking hit “As It Was,” Styles is once again battling loneliness, this time popping pills to cope with the mind-numbing agony of “sitting at home on the floor.” “As It Was” encapsulates his feeling isolated in his stagnancy amid an ever-changing world. It literally reflects the medicine his sick stepfather is taking, while it also figuratively represents how there is no remedy for the singer’s preemptive mourning: he must bear this grief and experience the loneliness that accompanies it. He’s impatient with the figure of Death, hoping for his loved one to pass before his affliction worsens, as he implores, “Oh, what’s it waiting for?” The “antidote'' serves a dual purpose. In “Ever Since New York”, Styles grapples with dejection over the loss of his stepfather, lamenting that “There’s no antidote / For this curse.” Later in the song, he recognizes that the medicine his stepfather is taking is only afflicting more pain in his final moments. Just as fans cling to him for support, the megastar uses medicine as a crux throughout his discography, taking listeners along on his quest for temporary relief from his emotional distress.īut Styles doesn’t just use medicine as relief – he references antidotes, drugs, and pills to bring his melancholia to life. Styles also finds joy in interacting with fans, but how does he cope with his own fears and emotions outside of the public eye? The fear of an end is laced throughout his songs, whether that be death, a breakup, or crippling lack of human interaction. The former One Direction star’s lyrics and persona offer fans an escape from reality, a remedy for their sorrows. “He’s always there for me,” said another fan in that same interview. Thousands of Harry Styles followers flock to his shows because he brings them joy, comfort, and community. This fan is not the only one who feels this way. “What does Harry mean to me? I mean, what does air mean to my lungs,” a fan cheekily admitted in a pre-Harry Styles concert interview. ![]()
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