Meaning of "Haze" by Tessa Violet

In "Haze," Tessa Violet delves into the experience of feeling lost and disconnected from oneself and the world. The opening lines describe a sense of being overwhelmed by the smallest things and feeling torn apart. The narrator suggests that this root of their struggle lies in the way they breathe, potentially alluding to anxiety or a sense of suffocation.

The next stanza introduces a relationship with a boy who seems to idolize the narrator. They see the boy as an escape and source of validation, reflected in his fascination with the narrator's presence and the way he cherishes their love. However, the narrator acknowledges the hollowness of these interactions as they drink the boy in not out of genuine affection but for a temporary distraction. This suggests a pattern of seeking external validation and emotional fulfillment to fill the internal void, symbolized by the tasteless haze.

The chorus presents a recurring theme in the song. The narrator admits that nothing satisfies them, not even the self-hate they sometimes feel. They wonder if the disconnect they experience is simply a fundamental aspect of their being, questioning if they were "just built differently." This self-doubt further complicates their search for an understanding of themselves.

The second verse introduces a boy who has not experienced the same haze as the narrator. He sees the world as a stage and appears more confident and vibrant. The contrast between the narrator's fifty "shades of beige" and his colorful perspective emphasizes their feeling of being trapped in their internal haze.

The following lines express the frustration of having thoughts and words trapped in the circuit of their chest, isolated from the rest of their mind. They attempt to walk it off, but their brain remains foggy, preventing them from expressing themselves fully.

The chorus repeats, emphasizing the narrator's ongoing struggle to find satisfaction and overcome the tasteless haze. They acknowledge that neither positive nor negative experiences seem capable of breaking this cycle. The song ends echoing the sentiment that nothing can take away this internal fog, highlighting the narrator's sense of being stuck and their questioning of their own sanity.