Meaning of "Hair Lockets" by Nicole Dollanganger

"Hair Lockets" by Nicole Dollanganger delves into the darker aspects of love and loss, exploring themes of possession, mortality, and the passage of time. The act of collecting hair, often considered an intimate and personal aspect of an individual, takes on a haunting quality as the speaker uses it to immortalize their loved one, preserving them in a tangible form. The imagery of the hair locket symbolizes a desire to control and own a piece of the other person, even as they inevitably age and change. The haunting refrain of holding onto "pretty strands that grew in your youth" suggests a fixation on preserving a specific moment in time, refusing to let go of the past. As the song progresses, the focus shifts from the living person to the inevitability of death and decay, highlighting the fleeting nature of life and the permanence of memory. Ultimately, "Hair Lockets" serves as a chilling meditation on the lengths one will go to in order to hold onto the memory of a loved one, even after they have passed away.