Behind the Lyrics: Phoebe Bridgers - “Lost Boys”

(Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels)

In this society, we are seeing more and more polarization, especially between women and men. According to the Pew Research Center, two-thirds of American men and women say the major differences between the two sexes are: "how they express their feelings, their physical abilities, their approach to parenting, their hobbies and personal interests." 

These are huge categories to disagree on, and because of that, more women are remaining single and childless and obtaining advanced degrees, while more men are continuing to work in trades. It is not uncommon for women to lead companies that many men work for. 

In Phoebe Bridgers' song "Lost Boys", we can see her referencing Peter Pan in her chorus and echoing much of the data above. Let's dive in: 

"Lost Boys" Phoebe Bridgers 

On a motorbike, doing 90 in a 55

To another life where they make you cut your hair

Impatient with a rifle and your papers

Weightless but not scared

This machine is killing me

I pretended it was make-believe

Lost boys never grow up, never go home

Lost boys never spend their lunch money, yeah

Lost boys never grow up, never get old

Lost boys, find me

That one time in East Berlin

When you threw a tantrum with a .57 and broke a rib

You told me you wish you were dead

But I don't believe that

I still wonder how you're sleeping

I don't feel bad, but I'm sorry

This machine is killing me

I pretended it was make-believe

Lost boys never grow up, never go home

Lost boys never spend their lunch money, yeah

Lost boys never grow up, never get old

Lost boys, find me

In a twin bed, where all will be forgiven in an instant

Hands in each other's hair

We are born again, so who cares where we're going?

In the morning, you were not there

One, two, three, whoo

Lost boys never grow up, never go home

Lost boys never spend their lunch money, yeah

Lost boys never give up, never get old

Lost boys, come find me, yeah

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Yeah

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Yeah, yeah

In the first verse:

"On a motorbike, doing 90 in a 55

To another life where they make you cut your hair

Impatient with a rifle and your papers

Weightless but not scared"

Bridgers seems to be referencing a different time period with words like "to another life". "A rifle and your papers/weightless but not scared" very much seems like a reference to wartime drafts. Freedom on a motorcycle was in the horizon, but instead, a "lost boy" is being forced to sign up to fight.

Moving on to the next verse: 

"That one time in East Berlin

When you threw a tantrum with a .57 and broke a rib

You told me you wish you were dead

But I don't believe that

I still wonder how you're sleeping

I don't feel bad, but I'm sorry"

After World War II, Berlin was split into two sides -- East and West. War does damage to everyone and everything it touches, and now, it seems our "lost boy" is lost in the trauma, the pain, and the ones who love him don't know how to bring him back home again.

But this line: " This machine is killing me

I pretended it was make-believe," really turns the story around to a commentary. The machine that she is referencing is the patriarchy. The patriarchy hurts everyone. When our society believes that men are stronger, better, and more capable than women, then we often send these young men to do horrible things that no human should have to do. 

The confidence of the young man on the motorcycle at the beginning of this song, to the weeping, broken soldier begging to die, is often sadly the same young man. "Lost" in the confidence that the world owes them everything. That they deserve everything, even if people get hurt. "Lost" in the consequences of the world believing that money and power deserve to be in the hands of a few men instead of the majority of people. 

And worst of all, is the last verse: 

 "In a twin bed, where all will be forgiven in an instant

Hands in each other's hair

We are born again, so who cares where we're going?

In the morning, you were not there"

Women are often seen as weak because we are raised to be more emotional, or at least allowed to be more emotional than boys. So when men begin to experience unfamiliar emotions, they turn to women. It is often the ones we love the most that we hurt the most, and in this last lyric, that is certainly true. 

The woman comforts him, he makes promises, and then he leaves. Once again, the universe has told him -- you are a man, you are allowed, take what you want. And who is left to pick up the shattered pieces of the world around? Women. 

Wow. Until next