“When we met, Lucy and Phoebe and I were in similar places in our lives and our musical endeavours, but also had similar attitudes toward music that engendered an immediate affinity”, says Baker. “Lucy and Phoebe are incredibly gifted performers, and I am a fan of their art outside of being their friends, but they are also both very wise, discerning and kind people whom I look up to in character as much as in talent."
On January 18, 2023, the trio announced their debut album the record and released three singles: "$20", "Emily I'm Sorry", and "True Blue", followed by the single "Not Strong Enough" on March 1. the record was released on March 31. the record was followed by their third EP, the rest, released on October 13, 2023.
Souvenir
Boygenius Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hasn't caught a thing yet
Twenty dollars in souvenirs
Anything's worth trying
To stay out of your nightmares
Few hours in your dream last night
Always end up dying
Always managed to move in
Right next to cemeteries
And never far from hospitals
I don't know what that tells you about me
Pulling thorns out of my palm
Working midnight surgery
When you cut a hole into my skull
Do you hate what you see?
Like I do
The opening lines of Boygenius's Souvenir describe a dreamcatcher in the rearview mirror of a car that hasn't caught anything yet. This imagery serves as a metaphor for the singer's inability to escape from their own thoughts and nightmares. The next few lines suggest that the singer is willing to try anything to distract themselves from their own turmoil, illustrated by the twenty dollars spent on souvenirs. These lines highlight the pain and desperation felt by the singer in their search for peace.
The chorus of the song delves deeper into the singer's nightmares, revealing that they always end up dying in them. The fact that the singer is aware of this and seems to accept it as normal is poignant and adds to the tragedy of the song. The following lines suggest that the singer may have a morbid obsession with death, given that they always seem to end up living next to cemeteries and hospitals. The final lines of the first verse speak to the singer's pain as they describe the act of pulling thorns out of their palm, something that could be seen as a metaphor for the daily pain and struggle that they experience.
The second half of the song continues this theme of pain and struggle, with the singer describing working midnight surgery and the feeling of having a hole cut into their skull. These lines are packed with emotion and suggest that the singer has experienced physical pain in addition to the emotional turmoil that is already apparent in the lyrics. The final line of the song, "Do you hate what you see? Like I do," adds another layer of complexity to the song, suggesting that there may be an internal struggle between the singer's desire for freedom from their pain and their own self-loathing.
Line by Line Meaning
Dreamcatcher in the rearview mirror
Despite having a dreamcatcher in sight, no dream has been caught yet.
Hasn't caught a thing yet
The dreamcatcher hasn't been successful in catching any nightmares yet.
Twenty dollars in souvenirs
Although it's a small amount, souvenirs are worth trying to remember a significant moment.
Anything's worth trying
It's worth pursuing anything that can help stay away from nightmares.
To stay out of your nightmares
Trying to stay away from bad dreams that might haunt one.
Few hours in your dream last night
A dream that felt like it lasted only a couple of hours.
Always end up dying
The dreams always end up in death.
You said because of course I did
This statement doesn't have a direct meaning, but more of an acknowledgment of a known issue.
Always managed to move in
Always finding a place to move in.
Right next to cemeteries
The places were always near cemeteries.
And never far from hospitals
The places were also close to hospitals.
I don't know what that tells you about me
Not sure what to make of this pattern.
Pulling thorns out of my palm
Trying to remove the pain from one's life.
Working midnight surgery
Working hard and long hours to improve one's life.
When you cut a hole into my skull
When someone looks into one's life with scrutiny, even to the point of causing damage.
Do you hate what you see?
Does someone else find fault or hatred in my life?
Like I do
Similar to the artist's own self-criticism.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: Julien Rose Baker, Lucy Elizabeth Dacus, Phoebe Lucille Bridgers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind