Released: 2024
“What I Am” by ZAYN is a reflective piece teeming with existential questions and emotional vulnerability. The song articulates ZAYN’s quest for authenticity, acceptance, and love, set against a backdrop of strife and self-doubt. The lyrics grapple with complex emotions, and ZAYN’s raw articulation makes it hit home.
ZAYN begins with a confession about his habits; “I been drinking absinthe,” which could be a metaphorical representation of numbing the pain and uncertainty in his life. His statements “I just did the math, it ain’t adding up / I’ve had enough of / Running ’round this board game,” mean that he’s done with playing games – the contrived manipulations and deceptions that often characterize human relationships and interactions.
The repetition of “Am I crazy? / Am I foolish? / Am I stupid?” reflects themes of self-doubt and introspection. The artist is questioning his sanity for letting himself be emotionally vulnerable and tangled in a relationship that seems to be causing him more harm than good.
He iterates similar sentiments in “If I told you, I loved you / Would you say that it’s fucked up?” This signifies ZAYN’s fear of opening up about his emotions, possibly because he’s been misunderstood or treated badly in the past when he’s expressed his feelings. ZAYN’s continual entreaty, “Don’t take me for what I’m saying /Just take me for what I am,” signifies his deep-seated desire for acceptance and understanding.
Further into the song, ZAYN confesses, “Living in the moment / Feels good to me ’til it hurts / And I need somebody.” Here, he’s expressing the loneliness that results from transient pleasures, a common sentiment amidst young artists grappling with fame and success.
The metaphor, “I’m tired of dancing around the point / Sharp and it is jagged like the shape of glass / And it steals my voice,” vividly communicates his frustration with how emotional honesty can leave one feeling exposed, vulnerable, and unheard.
Essentially, “What I Am” by ZAYN is a poignant journey through the complexity of the human emotional experience. It’s less about the specifics of his personal story and more about the universal struggle for understanding, acceptance, and love amidst our flaws and vulnerabilities.
