What Now by Rihanna Lyrics Meaning – An Odyssey of Emotional Turmoil in Pop Music
Lyrics
I shouldn’t be crying, tears were for the weaker days
I’m stronger now, or so I say
But something’s missing
Whatever it is
It feels like it’s laughing at me through the glass of a two-sided mirror
Whatever it is
It’s just laughing at me
And I just wanna scream
What now?
I just can’t figure it out
What now?
I guess I’ll just wait it out (wait it out)
What now?
Oh-oh-oh-oh, what now?
I found the one, he changed my life
But was it me that changed
And he just happened to come at the right time
I’m supposed to be in love
But I’m numb again
Whatever it is
It feels like it’s laughing at me through the glass of a two-sided mirror
Whatever it is
It’s just sitting there laughing at me
And I just wanna scream
What now?
I just can’t figure it out
What now?
I guess I’ll just wait it out (wait it out)
What now?
Please tell me
What now?
There’s no one to call, ’cause I’m just playing games with them all
The more I swear I’m happy, the more that I’m feeling alone
‘Cause I spend every hour just going through the motions
I cant even get the emotions to come out
Dry as a bone, but I just wanna shout
What now?
I just can’t figure it out
What now?
I guess I’ll just wait it out (wait it out)
What now?
Somebody tell me
What now?
I don’t know where to go
I don’t know what to feel
I don’t know how to cry
I don’t know why
I don’t know where to go
I don’t know what to feel
I don’t know how to cry
I don’t know why
I don’t know where to go
I don’t know what to feel
I don’t know how to cry
I don’t know why
So what now?
Caught in the confluence of haunting introspection and explosive vocal prowess, Rihanna’s ‘What Now’ is a poignant exploration of inner conflict and the search for emotional resolution. The song manifests as an anthem for the disoriented hearts, those grappling with the aftermath of personal upheaval, and the ensuing quest for clarity amidst the fog of one’s own feelings.
Rihanna, known for her chart-topping hits and bold persona, dives into a less trodden narrative with ‘What Now’. The track stands stark against her typical discography of empowerment and resilience, painting a portrait of vulnerability that strikes a chord with anyone who has faced the echoing silence after a tumultuous life event. Let us unravel the layers of complexity and emotion within these lyrics, illuminating the depths to which the artist’s words resonate.
The Struggle with Vulnerability
The opening lines set the stage for a confessional of sorts, where Rihanna acknowledges a pained lump in her throat she’s been willfully ignoring. This acknowledgement symbolizes not just a physical discomfort, but also the all-too-human instinct to suppress vulnerability, to appear strong amidst life’s relentless challenges.
The assertion of strength juxtaposed with the admission of something lacking sets the stage for the song’s central conflict. Rihanna confronts the often unspoken truth that strength isn’t impenetrability, but rather the capacity to bear the weight of one’s own emotions, even when they threaten to shatter the illusion of control.
A Reflection of Self-Confrontation
Metaphorical in nature, the ‘two-sided mirror’ lyric evokes the sensation of confronting an unknown, internal adversary. The laughter she perceives appears to mock her inability to decipher her feelings, suggesting an internal schism that feels both alien and intimate.
This mirror doesn’t merely reflect; it taunts, indicating a complex entanglement with her self-perception. The trapped laughter between the layers of glass can be interpreted as the dismissal of her struggles by her own subconscious, revealing the complexity of self-awareness and self-acceptance.
The Echo of ‘What Now?’ – A Cry for Direction
The repetition of the titular question ‘What now?’ isn’t just a query, but a poignant refrain that resonates the core human desire for guidance in the wake of uncertainty. It is the heartfelt cry of someone seeking the next step when the path has vanished, the blueprint lost amidst the emotional upheaval.
Notably, this question doesn’t beg for a solution from another, but rather it’s a reflection of introspection, a need to find personal closure or a new horizon. It carries the weight of indecision and the paralysis that can come from not knowing which step to take when every direction seems shrouded in doubt.
The Paradox of Loneliness in Companionship
Addressing the paradox of feeling loneliest when not alone, Rihanna touches on the emptiness that can persist despite seemingly fulfilling relationships. She skillfully weaves the narrative of performing happiness as a facade, which in turn amplifies the isolation within.
The lyrics present a dichotomy where the act of ‘playing games’ with people is less about deception and more about survival, an attempt to navigate social interactions while coping with the emotional disconnect that reveals a yearning for something more profound and genuine.
Unboxing the Song’s Veiled Message of Healing
Throughout the track, Rihanna embodies the uncomfortable process of healing, which often begins by facing the raw and uncomfortable parts of ourselves. ‘What now?’ isn’t just an existential question; it’s also a starting point for recovery, a prompt that acknowledges there’s something beyond the present state of confusion and pain.
By vocalizing the journey from numbness and rote motions to the brink of an emotional outcry, Rihanna delivers a potent, universal message: acknowledging the need to feel, to cry, and to not know is not a demonstration of weakness, but a brave first step towards healing.
