Phoebe Bridgers’ Moon Song: Reverie of Abuse

By Liv Foust

Moon Song written and performed by Phoebe Bridgers is the epitome of lyrical effectiveness supported by an emotionally bubbling melody. Bridgers pulls the listener under the covers as a crying girlfriend, one twisted in an emotionally abusive relationship, deprived of legible reason. Beautiful use of metaphor can be found riddled throughout the lyrics, illustrating the most complex feelings in a simple, matter-of-fact context. The song represents moments of realisation, surrender, admittance and hopelessness- encapsulating the immense weight of this strained and dying relationship. The listener gains insight into the narrators state of mind, one of knowing how she feels, unable to express her feelings in a complexity that would be found to be worth something to her partner.

Moon Song stretches for almost five minutes, most of the time being filled with the softest guitar and drum-accompanied background melody. The sparseness of lyrics is a direct representation of the narrator’s inability to gather her feelings. How she is engulfed in the nature of this emotionally abusive relationship, hooked on idea that this is what love should me. The listener floats in the etherial sound, sparking feelings of wonder. Similarly to that of the narrator, wondering if this is what she deserves, what she is worth if not, and when it will end. We can observe the moment in which sprinkles of integrity are gained. We hear her put the appropriate blame on her partner: “you asked to walk me home, but I had to carry you.” This metaphor alone could support the message of Bridgers’ story, completely encasing the essence of the narrators emotions. She recognises the veil of affection hiding the unfair “needs” of her partner, stopping for a moment to listen to herself. The blame grows against her partner, “you pushed me in.” She feels herself drowning, “now my feet can't touch the bottom of you.” Bridgers’ use of eloquent metaphors makes us think, “why didn’t I think of that first.” The simplicity of the metaphors allows for flexibility in the details of the story, while pinpointing a central emotion experienced in many circumstances emotional abuse. Listeners who have experienced similar circumstances find themselves hearing Bridgers tell them their own story.

Ones perception of what love “should be” can often be blurred through manipulation or inexperience. What was once an innocent idea becomes the weight of the world, someone “shoving their tongue down the throat of someone who couldn’t love them more.” The victim “waiting for the next time they want them, like a dog with a bird at their door.” Bridgers continues to exercise her incredible lyrical technique of metaphor and simile. This, coupled with the aching timbre of the track, invokes us as the listener begin feeling the tears prick from behind our eyes. We get a window into a specific moment of this relationship that is illustrated as a tipping point for the narrator. “We fought about John Lennon until I cried, and then went to be upset.” Bridgers maintains the simplicity of her chosen lyrics, illustrating how a seemingly normal argument that could be had in any relationship, becomes the end-all when coupled with previous repeated and abusive behaviour. When the narrator begins to feel this, she knows there is something wrong, that there is something she should say, “but can’t for the life of her, remember what it is.” When victims of emotionally abusive relationships begin to understand that something isn’t right, it can be hard to differentiate between what is love, and what isn’t. Given that many have been living in a certain relationship dynamic for some time, it becomes difficult to see themselves being treated any differently. Bridgers portrays this perfectly in whispering the admittance of the narrator. It is almost a cry for help; but who would she believe to have listened? Betrayal is an emotion stirred up towards the end of emotionally abusive relationships. How could a person that was trusted so much become a figure that was manipulative and abusive this entire time? Bridgers spits our further admittance of this regretted love in a crescendo of lyrical simplicity: “if I could give you the moon, I would give you the moon.” She would lay it all out for her partner, but now she knows that is exactly what they want her to do. Bridgers illustrates her fear and anger towards the dead love, how the partner may be “sick, married or dying,” and she should still be treating them with respect in equality. She feels like she is being “held like water in their hands,” falling between the cracks of negligence and ignorance. As the emotions become stronger, the volume of the track grows. When all of her realisation is spit out, we hear her closing statement. One of a melancholy recollection of what she once believed the love to be: “you started crying, you know the killer doesn’t understand.” She did it all, every last swing at salvation seemingly missed according her her partner. In reference to how she was treated, she simply does not understand. Phoebe Bridgers showcases her incredible songwriting through the use of extremely effective metaphors and lyrical simplicity throughout Moon Song. The sparseness of the complexity translates feelings of confusion, realisation and reverie. The narrators freedom is recognised in herself, and we as a listener are provided with a window into her process of emotional liberation.