Meaning of "Boyish" by Hippo Campus

The lyrics of "Boyish" delve into the complexity of familial relationships and the lasting impact they have on one's sense of self. The opening lines, "Our stucco arms are forever tied loose / Your velvet touch sends me back to the moon," evoke a sense of longing for a deeper connection with someone, possibly a parent figure. The mention of the father's return and the mother's guilt suggests a strained dynamic within the family. The line "Brothers in the basement till he's thirty" hints at a sense of immaturity or delayed growth in the family, with the narrator feeling burdened by the weight of their siblings' struggles. The reference to the "wolf child" symbolizes the narrator's inner turmoil and the heavy emotional burden they carry. They seek solace in an "adolescent girl," perhaps alluding to a romantic relationship that offers temporary respite from their inner struggles.

The chorus highlights the narrator's sense of longing for love and validation: "There's sunlight dripping off the apricot tree / Lost to the night tide growing in me." The juxtaposition of sunlight and darkness reflects the conflicting emotions the narrator experiences. They sing to the "drunks" like their "mom and dad," suggesting that they lack the guidance and nurturing they crave from their parents. The repeated line "All we ever knew is what we didn't have" emphasizes the feelings of lacking and longing that permeate the narrator's perception of their upbringing and relationships.

The second verse delves deeper into the narrator's feelings of insecurity and confusion: "Never really knew if I did something wrong / All I ever heard was 'it wasn't my fault'." This suggests a lack of clarity in their familial dynamics and a deep-seated belief that they are somehow at fault for their parents' actions. The line "But what good is truth if you don't understand / Nothing but a pair of calloused hands?" further reflects their struggle with finding a sense of truth and understanding within their own identity.

Throughout the song, the repetition of the phrase "I've been saying to ya" expresses the narrator's desire to be heard and understood. They long for someone to truly see them and validate their experiences. The final repetition of the chorus reinforces the narrator's yearning for love, validation, and a deeper connection with their family.