CATEGORIES » MEANING OF THE SONG

The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Hey, Asshole" by the artist "Watsky"

Contents

"Hey, Asshole" is a song about struggling with depression and apathy, despite acknowledging that you "have it good."

Key Themes:

Internal Conflict: The lyrical protagonist knows they should be grateful for what they have (health, intelligence) but can't shake the oppressive feeling of emptiness and powerlessness.

Societal Pressure: The phrase "there's treasure ahead of you" symbolizes the optimistic expectations imposed by society. The protagonist, however, sees "no fucking rainbow," highlighting their cynicism and disappointment.

Finding Motivation: Despite apathy, the protagonist seeks the strength to move on, reminding themselves of the purpose for which it is worth "getting up and putting one foot in front of the other."

Self-Criticism: The address "asshole" reflects self-flagellation and guilt for the inability to enjoy life. The protagonist criticizes themself for laziness, passivity, and unwillingness to fight.

Hope: Despite the pessimistic tone, the song contains hope for overcoming difficulties. The protagonist compares themself to a salmon swimming upstream, symbolizing persistence and the pursuit of a better life.

Imagery:

Sunny Day – a symbol of happiness and opportunities that the protagonist cannot appreciate.

Cold Coffee – a metaphor for missed opportunities and disappointment.

Endless Staircase – an image of the futility of effort and the impossibility of achieving what is desired.

"Hey, Asshole" is an honest and emotional description of the struggle with oneself, a song about how difficult it is to find motivation and strength when you are haunted by apathy and hopelessness.

[Bridge: Kate Nash]

Hey, asshole,

See the sun is shining

But you are not smiling

And I don't know why,

And I don't know why,

And I don't know why.

I'm an asshole,

‘Cause the sun is shining,

But I am not smiling

And I don't know why,

And I don't know why,

And I don't know why.

[Chorus: Kate Nash & Watsky]

I know I'm often told

That there's a pot of gold,

But I don't see no fuckin' rainbow and my coffee's cold.

I know I should be grateful,

I know I'm good and able,

But I don't have the strength to get up from the kitchen table.

This kind of shot comes once,

Another opportunity of a lifetime just slipped away,

And that's the fifth this month.

But when you take a punch,

Don't you ever forget

Why you get up and you put one foot in front of the next.

[Verse 1: Watsky]

Got the power of my will,

I don't wanna to win a mil',

But I'm looking at windowsill.

Gotta take a bitter pill,

Gonna pay for what I did to my head, and my heart'll foot the bill.

Got a foot in my mouth and because I'm kicking myself

I developed a habit of knocking out my front tooth,

Looking uncouth,

Want to hear the truth

Give it to me straight, 151 proof.

Telling myself it'll happen when I'm happy but I'm climbing up a ladder that has got no end,

Hung up on a rung I'll never make it to the top,

I'm looking at the bottom and I must descend.

All I want to do is buck this trend,

Everybody need a buck to spend,

And I'll be working on myself till I work on someone else,

Till I get there I'ma just pretend.

[Chorus: Kate Nash & Watsky]

I know I'm often told

That there's a pot of gold,

But I don't see no fuckin' rainbow and my coffee's cold.

I know I should be grateful,

I know I'm good and able,

But I don't have the strength to get up from the kitchen table.

This kind of shot comes once,

Another opportunity of a lifetime just slipped away,

And that's the fifth this month.

But when you take a punch,

Don't you ever forget

Why you get up and you put one foot in front of the next.

[Bridge: Kate Nash]

Hey, asshole,

See the sun is shining

But you are not smiling

And I don't know why,

And I don't know why,

And I don't know why.

I'm an asshole,

‘Cause the sun is shining,

But I am not smiling

And I don't know why,

And I don't know why,

And I don't know why.

[Verse 2: Watsky]

When I'm in a crisis,

In a moment of silence

I look under my eyelids

And I'm checking my mileage.

I been using a pool of water as a mirror but not for style, it's

So I can reach in and pimpslap my reflection for acting childish.

Spent a half an hour

Sitting at the bottom of my shower,

Letting the water run over my body and, dammit, I wanted to get up but I didn't have the power.

I don't have the answers anyway.

Don't want to panic but I got to come clean,

Because the plan of the planet is just mean,

Knew if was tough, but, dammit, it's obscene,

I been huffing and puffing up to the top of the summit

And I'ma rough it if I have enough steam.

I'll keep on coming and coming until I'm coming with

The stamina of a salmon, who's heading upstream.

[Chorus: Kate Nash & Watsky]

I know I'm often told

That there's a pot of gold,

But I don't see no fuckin' rainbow and my coffee's cold.

I know I should be grateful,

I know I'm good and able,

But I don't have the strength to get up from the kitchen table.

This kind of shot comes once,

Another opportunity of a lifetime just slipped away,

And that's the fifth this month.

But when you take a punch,

Don't you ever forget

Why you get up and you put one foot in front of the next.

More Articles
In "Bet Against Me," Watsky uses metaphors and imagery to convey his resilience, creative energy, and self-belief. He compares himself to an acrobat leaping across rooftops, illustrating his comfort with risks and eagerness to embrace challenges
The lyrics of "The Plains of Mexico" by The Watersons present a boastful sailor's tale, full of humor and irony, but also laced with misogyny and racism typical of the era it reflects.The line "Why do these yellow girls all love me so?" is posed with a strong sense of irony
The lyrics of the song "Zone Out" by Waterparks are full of self-irony and the desire to please. The lyrical hero wonders if he is the guy of the girl's dreams, while realizing that he might seem obsessive
The song "Tantrum" by Waterparks expresses the band's frustration with the hypocrisy and superficiality of the music industry. The lyrical protagonist, Awsten, is tired of the fakeness, the bands that don't think for themselves and follow trends, and the people who only value him for his looks
In Waterparks' song "Royal," the lyrical protagonist grapples with an existential crisis, torn between desires, reality, and expectations.The "gold rush" in his head symbolizes anxiety and the pursuit of unattainable success, despite creative stagnation ("sitting here unemployed")
Waterparks' "Reboot" delves into a painful breakup, with the lyrical protagonist grappling with the shift in his emotions. He confesses that he no longer desires to salvage the relationship, despite previously clinging to his partner's voice
Feedback: mail@wikimeaning.com
Privacy Policy
Disclaimer
About Wikimeaning