Meaning of "Business Dinners" by Sigrid

The lyrics of "Business Dinners" explore the theme of identity and the pressure to conform to societal expectations. The opening lines, "Oh, you just want me to be sweeter, better, angel," highlight the idea of being forced to meet certain standards and personalities that may not align with one's true self. The repetition of "Business dinners" emphasizes the specific setting where this pressure is felt, suggesting that it is within the professional world that these expectations are most prevalent.

The line "Pictures, numbers, figures, yeah, deeper, smarter" captures the pressure to excel academically or professionally, suggesting that being intelligent and successful is a requirement for acceptance and validation. However, the singer asserts their intention to remain true to themselves, declaring "And I'll just try to be me" multiple times throughout the song.

The verse "In the silence, on my own, trapped in my head from the moment I wake up, oh, I've been feeling kinda low, trapped in my head from the moment I wake up" conveys a sense of isolation and the burden of constantly trying to meet these external expectations. It speaks to the emotional toll it takes to always feel the need to conform and the resulting feeling of being trapped within oneself.

The chorus, with its repetition of "I just wanna swim and float," expresses the desire to escape these pressures and simply be free. The idea of swimming and floating suggests a desire for liberation and the ability to live authentically without the weight of external expectations.

Overall, "Business Dinners" conveys the struggle to maintain one's true identity in a world that often pressures individuals to conform. It emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself and resisting the urge to change for the sake of fitting in or meeting societal expectations.