Sitting in my bedroom tonight
Thinking of how to change your mind
Since you walked out my life again
Yeah,
So I strike a pose and tilt my chin and hold the light to suit my skin
Your favourite t-shirt on again
Thinking of how to change your mind
Since you walked out my life again
The protagonist of the song sings that she is sitting in her bedroom, which could imply that she has isolated herself due to her sadness and frustration at the situation she has found herself in. The time of day has been stated as night time; this could suggest that she is lonely as she has no plans with any of her friends or family, or that she would usually be spending time with her boyfriend but due to their separation, she has resorted to spending her time alone. The next line reads, "Thinking of how to change your mind" - the protagonist clearly wants to win back her ex, but the feeling is not mutual on both parts as it would take the ex some convincing. It is also implied that the relationship is on-off, shown through the use of "again". The audience also get the impression that the protagonist's ex-boyfriend is insensitive toward her feelings as he is described to have "walked" out her life.
Yeah,
So I strike a pose and tilt my chin and hold the light to suit my skin
Your favourite t-shirt on again
The protagonist's immediate reaction and method to make her feel better is to take pictures of herself. It could be a way of masking her pain and anguish over the break-up, but she still remains concerned with her appearance and perhaps wants to make her ex jealous by taking a flattering picture of herself. However, she can't hide her sadness as she wears her ex's "favourite t-shirt" which shows that she is still attached and is finding it difficult to move on from the relationship. Once again, through the use of the word "again" it connotes that she frequently wears it and is still infatuated with her ex.
Counting hours, counting lies
3, 2, 1 and I smile
Taking pictures of myself, self, self
Taking pictures of myself, self self
Guess I'm reaching out to be assured
All I wanted was to be adored
Now you're telling me I'm vain, vain, vain
But you don't feel my pain, pain, pain
Facing life upon the shelf, shelf, shelf
Taking pictures of myself, self, self
Taking pictures of myself [x4]
I'll post it up in black and white
With a depressing quote on my life
So that you see what I'm going through
Yeah,
This is desperation at it's best
A conversation to be left
But all my pride was burned by you
Counting days, counting takes
3, 2, 1 I'm awake
Hey, what you looking at? [x8]
However, it is suggested that although she misses the relationship, it was not a stable or happy one which she reflects on in these lines. She is "counting hours" and "counting lies", stating that her ex was not truthful. She is trying to block out the negative memories of the relationship by counting down from 3 and plastering on a smile.
Taking pictures of myself, self, self
Taking pictures of myself, self self
Guess I'm reaching out to be assured
All I wanted was to be adored
In this verse, the protagonist openly admits that her selfie habit is a cry for help. Taking pictures of herself is the only way to grab her ex's attention, or anyone's attentions as she is looking for reassurance. The protagonist sings that all she wanted was to be "adored", which she was clearly not in her previous relationship so she is trying to seek out compliments and attention from anyone who is available. The repetition of "self" could mirror and signify the frequency at which she takes and uploads pictures of herself and hoping someone will pay her some much needed attention.
Now you're telling me I'm vain, vain, vain
But you don't feel my pain, pain, pain
Facing life upon the shelf, shelf, shelf
Taking pictures of myself, self, self
The protagonist is facing criticism for her selfie habit and is being called "vain". However, she argues that she takes pictures of herself out of pain and despair rather than vanity. She is also worried that she will never move on from her ex and will remain the rest of her life single, as she sings she is "facing life upon the shelf".
Taking pictures of myself [x4]
This is the song's hook and it is often refrained.
I'll post it up in black and white
With a depressing quote on my life
So that you see what I'm going through
One again, the protagonist admits that taking and posting pictures of herself is for attention, but it is implied that it is the only way for her to reach out to her ex - the whole purpose of her taking photos of herself is for him to see what she's "going through". The signer is also aware of social conventions, as many people nowadays post pictures with melancholic quotes and descriptions to convey their current emotions.
Yeah,
This is desperation at it's best
A conversation to be left
But all my pride was burned by you
She describes her attempt to reach out to her ex as "desperate" and although she would like to confront him and talk things over, her "pride" was "burned" by him and she would find the interaction difficult; taking pictures of herself is the least hurtful way to get her point across and also attract his attention.
Counting days, counting takes
3, 2, 1 I'm awake
"Counting days, counting takes" - this could refer to the amount of time she has been apart from her ex-boyfriend. "I'm awake" could refer to the protagonist coming to the realisation that she needs to find a more proactive way of reconnecting with her ex, or has simply decided to move on from the relationship.
Hey, what you looking at? [x8]
This could be the protagonist making a direct plea to her ex by asking him what he sees in the photos of herself that she posts and the subliminal or perhaps obvious messages that the photos are transcending.
