The song "Stay Down" by boygenius speaks to the struggle of the human psyche and the way we try to cope with our pain and insecurities. In the first verse, singer Julien Baker speaks of learning to accept the pain of life and "lean into the punch" in order to reduce the suffering of heartbreak and loss. At the same time, she sees the other person turning the other cheek, suggesting a lack of empathy or concern from the other party.

In the second verse, Baker confronts the feelings of isolation and loneliness that can arise as we scroll through our phone screens and observe the people around us. She relates to the experience of feeling lost and directionless, leading to a sense of detachment and disconnection from reality.

The refrain "It's a slow down" could be interpreted as a call to take things slow and process the emotions we feel in stressful situations, rather than rushing to react impulsively. However, this phrase might also represent the feeling of being under siege emotionally, with everything moving too fast and feeling overwhelming.

The third verse sung by all three singers suggests that the protagonist is struggling to confront their own flaws and recognizing themselves as a villain. They feel like they are constantly repenting for their "difficult mind" and seek punishment in the form of being pushed under the water like a sinner, symbolic of the desire to be absolved of guilt and shame.

The bridge describes a sense of being trapped in a "half life" and having to deal with the consequences of past actions. When the protagonist finally settles down, they find themselves alone with nobody else around. Ultimately, the song expresses the despair of not knowing how to handle our inner demons and feeling unable to truly connect with others as a result.