Meaning of "She Was" by Camille

The lyrics of "She Was" explore the concept of identity and the fluidity of self. The woman in the song is depicted as constantly changing, embodying different animal forms at various stages of her life. The narrator describes her as a swan when she is at home, graceful and elegant. When she is out, she becomes a tiger, fierce and independent. The contrasting images of a swan and a tiger represent the duality of her nature.

The woman's transformations continue as she becomes a toad, symbolizing her vulnerability and the challenges she faces in life. The narrator finds her and offers her care and compassion, represented by water and a rose. As the woman stretches and embraces her newfound strength, symbolized by the rising sun, she seems to undergo a personal growth.

The lyrics also touch on the idea that women, in order to survive, often have to be unfaithful to their true selves. The woman in the song is described as teaching the narrator this lesson. The line, "Women to survive, must be unfaithful to their child," suggests that women sometimes sacrifice their own needs and desires for the sake of their children.

The song hints at the woman having lived multiple lives, emphasized by the line, "She must have had so many lives." This could imply that she has experienced various reincarnations or that she has gone through significant transformations in her lifetime.

The protagonist also contemplates their own future existence and the uncertainty of what they will become after death. The line, "What will I be, a cat? A stone? A tree?" suggests a sense of curiosity and wonder about the afterlife and the possibility of a new form or identity.

Overall, "She Was" delves into themes of identity, transformation, and the complexities of being human. It highlights the idea that individuals can embody different roles and aspects throughout their lives, and that the concept of identity is not fixed or static.