Softcore - The Neighbourhood

The Neighbourhood is an alt rock band from California known for their dark, emotional vibe and unique mix of rock, R&B, and electronic sounds. I picked “Softcore” to analyze because even though it’s not as old, it blew up on TikTok for its intense drop and relatable lyrics about losing control. It’s the kind of song that sounds cool at first but the more you listen, the deeper it hits you.

Introduction Let’s talk about “Softcore.” If you’ve ever been in a relationship where you’re giving so much of yourself that it starts to hurt, this song probably hits way too close to home. When I first heard it, I just thought, “Damn… this is what emotional overload sounds like.” But once I sat down and actually read the lyrics, I realized there's so much more going on beneath the surface-level lyrics, and I had to share it here too!

Verse 1

“You’ve been my muse for a long time / You get me through every dark night”

Right from the first line, the speaker introduces their “muse,” an incredibly powerful term that’s often used to describe someone or something that inspires creativity. However, in this context, the speaker is not referring to their muse in a traditional artistic sense but rather as someone who provides emotional support through difficult times.

The “dark night” here is a metaphor for the emotional lows that the speaker faces. It’s the kind of hardship everyone can relate to, whether it’s a personal struggle, mental health challenges, or moments of uncertainty. The speaker depends on this person, not just for inspiration, but for guidance and support during the tough times, making the word "muse" even more meaningful in this context.

Jesse Rutherford, the lead singer, has discussed in interviews how his music often reflects themes of emotional dependence and vulnerability, which these lines exemplifies perfectly.

“I’m always gone, out on the go / I’m on the run and you’re home alone / I’m too consumed with my own life”

This line brings us to a very relatable tension in the song which is the imbalance between the speaker’s busy, almost frantic life and the stillness of the person they care about. The speaker is “always gone” and “on the run,” suggesting that they are constantly escaping or avoiding something, whether that’s personal issues or the complexities of the relationship itself.

Meanwhile, the other person is “home alone,” implying loneliness and emotional isolation. This creates a stark contrast between two people in a relationship: one is emotionally distant and preoccupied, while the other is waiting and left to fend for themselves emotionally.

Pre-Chorus

“Are we too young for this? / Feels like I can’t move”

This part of the song hits hard with emotional confusion and uncertainty. The rhetorical question, “Are we too young for this?” conveys the speaker’s doubt about their ability to handle the emotional complexities of the relationship. The relationship feels overwhelming, and the speaker wonders if they are inexperienced or immature to deal with it.

Next, the line "Feels like I can’t move” is a metaphor for the feeling of being stuck which is something we can all relate to. It’s that moment when emotions overwhelm us to the point where it feels like we can’t move forward or make a decision.

Rutherford has mentioned in interviews how his music often delves into the feeling of being stuck or trapped in relationships, where emotional uncertainty and self-doubt overshadow any action.

Chorus

“Sharing my heart / It’s tearing me apart / But I know I’d miss you, baby, if I left right now”

Here, the singer uses the metaphor of “sharing my heart” to express emotional vulnerability. In a typical relationship, sharing your heart would mean offering love and openness, but here, it’s “tearing me apart.” The paradox of love is at play which opening up to someone can bring you closer, but it can also make you feel exposed and emotionally drained.

However, despite the pain, the speaker acknowledges that leaving would hurt even more. The emotional attachment is strong enough that, even in their discomfort, the speaker can’t bring themselves to walk away, illustrating the complexity of love where the fear of losing someone outweighs the desire to escape the emotional turmoil.

“Doing what I can, tryna be a man / And every time I kiss you, baby / I can hear the sound of breaking down”

In these lines, the speaker talks about trying to “be a man,” which immediately brings in the theme of masculinity and societal expectations. The pressure to be strong, to hold things together, and to not show vulnerability is a huge part of masculinity. However, the speaker feels like they are failing to live up to these expectations because, internally, they are struggling. In a Billboard interview, Rutherford mentioned that his music often addresses the pressures he feels as a man, both in relationships and in society.

Besides that, the line where the singer hears “the sound of breaking down,” after kissing presents a juxtaposition. The act of kissing, which should be an intimate moment, becomes a trigger for their emotional breakdown, showing how love can both heal and hurt.

Verse 2

“I’ve been confused as of late / Watching my youth slip away”

This phrase is an example of figurative language which uses words in a non-literal way to create a more descriptive writing. The speaker is confused and uncertain about where their life is going, and seems to be grappling with the fear of growing up too quickly. This line speaks to the feeling of time slipping by, particularly in the context of youth. In this case, this line uses personification of "youth" , treating it as if it has the ability to move or slip away, which is a human action. This is a universal anxiety about adulthood creeping in, often accompanied by the pressure to achieve or figure things out before it’s “too late.”

“You’re like the sun, you wake me up / But you drain me out if I get too much”

This line uses a simile to compare the other person to the sun , a powerful symbol of life, energy, and warmth. The sun wakes him up, which suggests that the person gives him purpose or motivation.

However, the second half of the line reveals the dual nature of the person's impact. It’s also a metaphor for the way people can sometimes feel emotionally overwhelmed by those they care about. This idea of “too much” aligns with Rutherford’s own reflections in Vulture interview, where he’s spoken about how relationships, when too intense or consuming, can lead to burnout.

“I might need room or I’ll break”

Here, the speaker is expressing their need for space. This is a critical moment in the song because it signifies a turning point. The speaker recognizes that they are at a breaking point, and without some emotional distance, they may fall apart. This plea for space is a healthy reminder of the importance of boundaries in relationships. Without boundaries, even the strongest connections can become suffocating and lead to emotional burnout.

Repetition of Pre-Chorus

“Are we too young for this? / Feels like I can’t move”

Repetition of Chorus

“Sharing my heart / It’s tearing me apart / But I know I’d miss you, baby, if I left right now / Doing what I can, tryna be a man / And every time I kiss you, baby / I can hear the sound of breaking down”

By repeating the same lines, the song expresses the idea that the speaker is caught in this loop. No matter how much they want to grow, change, or escape, they keep ending up in the same space, torn between love and the pain it causes. Thus, the repetition is intentional. It mirrors how relationships that aren’t working still pull us back in, and how unresolved emotions don’t just go away after one verse. They echo, they haunt, and they repeat.

Bridge

“Breaking down, breaking down, breaking down / Breaking down, breaking down, breaking down”

The repetition of “breaking down” here is significant in building tension. It’s like the speaker is stuck in a loop of emotional breakdowns, and it just keeps repeating. This kind of repetition mimics how feelings of stress or anxiety can feel like they’re on an endless loop, making it really hard to break free. Rutherford has said that he often uses repetition in his songs to reflect that feeling of being overwhelmed, like emotions just keep piling up with no end in sight.

“I don’t want to play this part / But I do, all for you”

The speaker doesn’t want to play a role or pretend to be something they’re not, but they feel the need to do it for the other person because of the commitment. Despite this internal conflict, the speaker continues to perform this role "all for you," indicating that they are sacrificing their own sense of self to maintain the relationship, even though it is hurting.

“I don’t want to make this hard / But I will ‘cause I’m still”

Even though the speaker knows that the relationship is complicated and difficult, he is still holding on. This line shows that, despite the struggles, the speaker can’t quite let go yet. It’s that inner conflict that many people face when they’re emotionally tied to someone but recognize the relationship is falling apart.

Repetition of Chorus

“Sharing my heart / It’s tearing me apart / But I know I’d miss you, baby, if I left right now / Doing what I can, tryna be a man / And every time I kiss you, baby / I can hear the sound of breaking down”

The repetition of the chorus right before the outro really feels like the emotional peak of the song. At this point, after everything the speaker has revealed especially the emotional breakdown in the bridge, it’s like they’re holding onto the chorus as a last effort to process what they’re feeling.

When we hear “Sharing my heart / It’s tearing me apart” again, it doesn’t sound the same as before. Now, it carries more weight because we’ve seen just how emotionally exhausted and conflicted the speaker is. It’s not just repetition but it’s a reflection of how people often go in circles with their emotions, especially when they’re stuck in something that hurts but still feels too important to walk away from. It shows the speaker trying to make sense of the pain, even if deep down they know it might be time to let go.

Outro

“Sharing my bed / Sharing my bread / Sharing my bread / Sharing my head / (I’m breaking down) / Sharing my heart / Sharing my, suddenly I’m / (Breaking down) / Sharing, I’m done / Sharing my life”

The outro is the final expression of the speaker’s emotional and physical exhaustion. The repetition of “sharing” emphasizes just how much the speaker has given everything they have emotionally, mentally, and even physically.

Important Note: The term “bread” is particularly significant here because, in slang, “bread” refers to money. According to Roth (2023), the term “bread” as a slang term for money can be traced back to ancient times when bread was considered a staple food and an essential part of daily life. Just as bread was necessary for sustenance, money is crucial for survival in modern society. Both bread and money are seen as essential to sustaining life and meeting basic needs. So when the speaker says they are “sharing my bread,” they’re not just talking about literal meaning "bread", but they’re giving up their financial well-being. This gives the line an extra layer of sacrifice, showing just how much the speaker is willing to give, even at the cost of their own financial.

The last lines of the song are a final surrender. The speaker is exhausted, done with giving so much of themselves, and recognizes that they’ve reached their limit. The emotional exhaustion is noticeable here, and the abruptness of “I’m done” hits with finality. It’s a moment of closure, where the speaker acknowledges that they can no longer keep up the emotional giving without losing themselves entirely.

Conclusion

Softcore is like that feeling of being stuck in a relationship where you want to be there for someone, but it’s starting to take a serious emotional toll. The speaker is struggling to balance vulnerability and emotional exhaustion, something a lot of us can relate to when we feel like we’re giving too much, but still not sure if it’s enough. It’s a real emotional rollercoaster, and you can’t help but feel the weight of it with every lyric.

💬 What do you think?

Did any part of the lyrics hit you personally? Or is there another line you interpreted differently? Drop your thoughts in the comments. I’d love to hear how you connect with the song too!