Noah Kahan Lyrics, Meaning & Videos

Publish date: 2024-05-06

Cynic
Noah Kahan Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴I'd change my name to find a space to get some rest
I'd give my face to find a place to put my head
But this is who we are
There's no glamour to it
I board the plane and sleep my way to LAX
I cried at the rain, but there's no way that I'm depressed
Oh, if I think too hard
I'm scared I might lose it
Oh
The Hollywood sign don't catch my eye much anymore (oh-oh-ooh)
Leave it to time to make me feel I'm getting old
I'm living with it
Give me the open mind that I had before

(Oh-oh-oh-ooh)
I'm living with it
(Oh-oh-oh-ooh)
I'm living with it
(Oh-oh-oh-ooh)
Oh, I'm a cynic
(Oh-oh-oh-ooh)
Give me the open mind that I had before

They sense the blame that comes with failure and success
Would it make me famous if I break down in the press?
And give them what they want
There's no effort to it

Oh
The Hollywood sign don't catch my eye much anymore (oh-oh-ooh)
Leave it to time to make me feel I'm getting old
I'm living with it
Give me the open mind that I had before

(Oh-oh-oh-ooh)
I'm living with it
(Oh-oh-oh-ooh)
I'm living with it
(Oh-oh-oh-ooh)
Oh, I'm a cynic
(Oh-oh-oh-ooh)
Give me the open mind that I had before

I miss the days when one was better than the last
I miss the taste of growing pains I knew would pass
Oh, I miss those thoughts
And that fear of losing

Oh
I don't know why I see no light in anything (oh-oh-ooh)
Leave it to life to turn my strengths back into weaknesses
But I'm living with 'em
So give me the open mind that I had before

(Oh-oh-oh-ooh)
I'm living with it
(Oh-oh-oh-ooh)
I'm living with it
(Oh-oh-oh-ooh)
Oh, I'm a cynic
(Oh-oh-oh-ooh)
Give me the open mind that I had before
(Oh-oh-oh-ooh) there's something missing darling, oh
(Oh-oh-oh-ooh)
I'm living with it
(Oh-oh-oh-ooh) 'cause I'm a cynic, darling, ah

(Oh-oh-oh-ooh)
Give me the open mind that I had before


Overall Meaning

In Noah Kahan's song "Cynic,” he expresses the struggles of living in Hollywood and the fear of losing oneself in the pursuit of fame and success. The opening lines "I’d change my name to find a space to get some rest, I’d give my face to find a place to put my head” suggest that the pressure to conform to the expectations of the industry has caused Noah to lose his identity. Throughout the song, he struggles with the dichotomy of being a success in the industry while trying to hold onto his beliefs and values.


Kahan sings about how the Hollywood sign used to capture his attention, but now it's just a relic of a dream-like past. He misses the purity of his past thoughts and fears losing himself in the constant chase of success. "Give me the open mind that I had before" - Noah is asking to regain the open-hearted perspective he had before.


In the end, Noah Kahan admits that he is a cynic and is trying to hold onto his true self in the whirlwind of Hollywood. He knows that the entertainment industry is full of people who are out for themselves and are only interested in their success. He is trying to hold onto his values and stay true to himself.


Line by Line Meaning

I'd change my name to find a space to get some rest
I would take drastic measures to escape the stress of my life.


I'd give my face to find a place to put my head
I would do anything to find a place to call my own and get some peace.


But this is who we are
I have to accept that this is my life and I can't change who I am.


There's no glamour to it
Despite how it may seem to outsiders, my life is not glamorous or enjoyable.


I board the plane and sleep my way to LAX
I often travel for my work and try to sleep to avoid the stress and anxiety.


I cried at the rain, but there's no way that I'm depressed
I am not clinically depressed but I am struggling and have emotions that are difficult to handle.


Oh, if I think too hard
When I reflect too much on my life and situation, I become overwhelmed with fear and anxiety.


I'm scared I might lose it
I fear losing control of my emotions if I push myself too far.


The Hollywood sign don't catch my eye much anymore (oh-oh-ooh)
The glitz and glamour of Hollywood no longer has the power to impress or intrigue me.


Leave it to time to make me feel I'm getting old
Passing time makes me feel like life is moving too fast and I'm getting older.


I'm living with it
I'm trying to cope and accept my situation.


Give me the open mind that I had before (Oh-oh-oh-ooh)
I want to return to the mindset I had in the past that allowed me to better deal with life's challenges.


They sense the blame that comes with failure and success
People are quick to judge others when they succeed or fail.


Would it make me famous if I break down in the press?
I wonder if public breakdowns are necessary for fame and success in the music industry.


And give them what they want
I could choose to sacrifice my mental health to cater to what others want from me.


There's no effort to it
It would be easy to give in to the expectations and pressure from others.


I miss the days when one was better than the last
I miss the simplicity of life when progress was easy to measure and recognize.


I miss the taste of growing pains I knew would pass
I miss the sense of growth and progress that came from overcoming difficult situations.


Oh, I miss those thoughts
I miss the mindset and perspective that I used to have.


And that fear of losing
I miss the fear and anxiety that came with the possibility of failure and loss.


I don't know why I see no light in anything (oh-oh-ooh)
I am struggling to find positivity or hope in my life right now and I'm not sure why.


Leave it to life to turn my strengths back into weaknesses
Life can be unpredictable and challenging, forcing me to adapt and potentially losing my confidence and strength in the process.


There's something missing darling, oh
Something is missing from my life and I can't quite put my finger on it.


Cause I'm a cynic, darling, ah
I have become jaded and skeptical about life and people.


Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Joel Little, Noah Kahan

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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