Meaning of "Barren" by Nicole Dollanganger

"Barren" by Nicole Dollanganger delves into the depths of emotional emptiness and numbness that can come with trauma and pain. The lyrics evoke a sense of decay and detachment, with the narrator feeling like a shell of themselves. There is a haunting sense of being unable to connect with others on a deep emotional level, of feeling incomplete and unworthy of love. The imagery of being curdled, spoiled, and decayed reflects the internal turmoil and self-destructive tendencies that the narrator experiences. The refusal to be vulnerable or open up to love is also a prominent theme, with the fear of being unable to reciprocate or feeling warmth even in intimate moments. The metaphor of trying to stuff the narrator like a doll and them cutting off their own strings symbolizes a sense of self-sabotage and rejection of intimacy. Overall, "Barren" explores the profound sense of emotional emptiness and inability to connect with others that can result from trauma and pain.