Meaning of "Stay Away From My Friends" by Pierce The Veil
"Stay Away From My Friends" explores the destructive nature of a toxic relationship and the plea for independence and freedom from an unhealthy attachment. The lyrics depict a sense of being suffocated and controlled by a partner who has manipulated their way into the narrator's life. The line "Waking up your neighbors downstairs, I've been inside your bedroom a thousand years" suggests that the narrator feels trapped in a cyclical pattern of dysfunction and is unable to escape the emotional grip of their partner.
The chorus embodies the narrator's desperation to maintain a support system outside of the toxic relationship: "Baby, stay away from my friends. 'Cause I need them to carry me when it's over." Here, the friends symbolize a lifeline, providing solace and a sense of normalcy in a turbulent existence. The plea for them to stay away from the narrator's friends indicates the fear of isolation and abandonment should their partner infiltrate this crucial support network.
The lyrics also touch on the physical and emotional pain experienced within the relationship. The line "I don't know how you got into me, down my throat and made a home in my veins" illustrates a sense of invasion, where the partner has burrowed their way into the narrator's very being. The reference to rivers that once carried them away suggests a past full of freedom and adventure which has now been overshadowed by the toxic relationship.
The mention of self-harm and self-destructive thoughts, such as "scaring the thought of kissing razors," showcases the depths of the narrator's despair and the toll the relationship has taken on their mental well-being. The plea for their partner to stay away from their friends is, in part, a desperate attempt to protect themselves from further harm and trauma.
Overall, "Stay Away From My Friends" explores the complexities of a toxic relationship, the need for support and independence, and the struggle to break free from a destructive attachment.
