Poetry - Song

I Can Lift A Car by WALK THE MOON

When I come home
When I come home
Oh I hear you washing in the shower

Mirages of you
Mirages of you
Even steam pouring through the crack at the floor

I won't lose it, I won't lose it, I won't lose it
I won't lose it, I won't lose it

Hold it steady, hold it steady, hold it steady,
Hold it steady, hold it steady

Over top one another:
All by myself
I can lift a car
All by myself
I can lift a car

I can lift a car up all by myself

Over top one another:
All by myself
Up all by myself
All by myself
Up all by myself

I can lift a car up all by myself

So very nice
So very nice
My grandpa's leather jacket and goggles

So you kissed me
On the futon
Oh I hope you like it in Chicago

Hold it steady, hold it steady, hold it steady,
Hold it steady, hold it steady

I won't lose it, I won't lose it, I won't lose it
I won't lose it, I won't lose it

Over top one another:
All by myself
I can lift a car up
All by myself
I can lift a car up

I can lift a car up all by myself

Over top one another:
All by myself
Up all by myself
All by myself
Up all by myself

I can lift a car up all by myself

Did you did you
Did you know that
I can lift a car up all by myself

Well no misunderstanding
I'm not saying that you came
but you did

I can lift a car up all by myself

I've been going out
And trying to stay fit
Well I met someone who wears your glasses

She kissed me on
My new futon
Oh I'm clumsy cause she finds me attractive

I won't lose it, I won't lose it, I won't lose it
I won't lose it, I won't lose it

Over top one another:
All by myself
I can lift a car
All by myself
I can lift a car

I can lift a car up all by myself

Over top one another:
All by myself
Up all by myself
All by myself
Up all by myself

I can lift a car up all by myself

Did you did you
Did you know that
I can lift a car up all by myself

Well no misunderstanding
I'm not saying that you came
but you did

I can lift a car up all by myself

To me, this song is about independence and being able to live life without a significant other. The repetition used at the very beginning and throughout the song implies the singer rethinking the situation, not believing she actually left, "even [seeing] steam pouring through the crack at the floor" like she's there showering, even though she's not. The repetition then transfers from rethinking the situation to encouraging himself, telling himself over and over to "hold it steady" and that "[he] won't lose it" just because she's gone. And then "I can lift a car up all by myself" is clearly a hyperbole, but it symbolizes that he doesn't need anyone else to succeed. The next verse is him after accepting she is gone, no longer imagining her there, but just thinking of her wherever she is now ("I hope you like it in Chicago"). And again he repeats that he can lift a car by himself, furthering his acceptance of his independence. Finally, he mentions meeting someone new. However, he still repeats that he can "lift a car up all by [himself]." This whole song shows his transformation from denial, acceptance, and moving on, and in doing so finding his independence and realizing that even when he found someone new, he didn't need anyone but himself.