The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Bully" by the artist "Three Days Grace"

The song "Bully" by Three Days Grace tackles the issue of bullying and its devastating consequences. The lyrics tell the story of two characters – a victim of bullying and the aggressor – and describe their emotional state, leading to a tragic outcome.

The first verse introduces us to the victim, a young man haunted by inner demons – "voices in his head." He suffers in silence but is determined to end his torment: "today he won't go unnoticed... the piercing scream will end." This hints at a possible act of violence, directed either at the abusers or himself.

The second verse introduces the motif of searching for blame. The lyrical hero lists the potential culprits responsible for the victim's suffering: family, the "upstart" (likely the bully), and himself. The phrase "maybe he wanted to be looked for" is ambiguous. On the one hand, it may indicate the victim's desire for help and attention, which he lacked. On the other hand, it may hint at suicidal thoughts and a desire to attract attention in such a desperate way.

The third verse describes a girl who also suffers from bullying. She feels lonely and depressed, but "tonight she won't go unnoticed." Unlike the young man, she loses control of herself ("if she doesn't remember herself when she loses her temper"), which foreshadows aggressive behavior.

The recurring refrain "Blame the family, blame the upstart, blame me" emphasizes the complexity of the bullying problem. The text does not give definitive answers about who is to blame, inviting the listener to reflect on the role of family, environment, and society in shaping such situations.

The final lines "maybe they wanted to be looked for" take on a sinister connotation in light of the previous verses. They suggest that both characters, the victim and the aggressor, chose a tragic path, perhaps committing an act of violence to get attention and end their suffering.