The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Lost Boy" by the artist "Troye Sivan"

In "Lost Boy," Troye Sivan explores the bittersweet realization of not being ready for a serious relationship, despite harboring strong feelings. The lyrical protagonist feels lost, unprepared for commitment, and afraid of hurting the person they love.

The opening lines, "As soon as the smile left your face, I vanished without a trace," convey the fragility and fleeting nature of their connection. The protagonist cannot cope with hardship, with their lover's sadness, and therefore chooses to escape. They confess to lying to themselves and everyone else, claiming to be fine while feeling like a "stupid motherfucker."

The protagonist urges their partner to run while they still can, before it's too late, before they become even more attached and start longing for them. The line "I say I wanna settle down, building you castles in the sky" highlights the protagonist's inner conflict: they crave stability, attempting to convince both themselves and their partner, but the fear of commitment ultimately holds them back.

The recurring motif of a "lost boy" who's "not ready to be found" emphasizes the protagonist's aversion to being tied down, their yearning for freedom and independence. They acknowledge that their relationship was ultimately doomed from the start ("we knew from the start that we wouldn't last forever"), and that both of them would be better off apart.

Towards the end, the protagonist, as if convincing themselves, repeats, "‘Cause someone could love you better than I can." This is a desperate attempt to justify their departure, to rationalize the painful breakup.