These lyrics express a raw and honest reflection on life, imperfection, and the acceptance of one’s mistakes and limitations. The speaker acknowledges their flaws, imperfections, and the struggles they’ve faced, but they also make peace with the fact that they lived life on their own terms.
The opening lines, “If I die before I wake, say hi I lived my way,” suggest a sense of personal autonomy. It’s as if the speaker is saying that, whether or not they reach the end of their life, they’ve lived it authentically and on their own terms. The phrase “say hi” seems to convey a feeling of peace with departure, as though they are ready to face whatever comes next, knowing they lived as they chose.
The next part, “Never said I would be perfect, never said that I deserve it,” highlights self-awareness and humility. Perfection is an unattainable standard, and the speaker admits that they never claimed to be flawless. In fact, acknowledging imperfection seems to be a key theme in this reflection on life. They don’t expect life to be without its struggles or without mistakes, and they’re okay with that. The speaker also seems to suggest that they are aware they don’t deserve anything—there’s no entitlement, only the reality of human existence, which involves both good and bad moments.
“Never said I wouldn’t lie, never said I wouldn’t make my mama cry,” furthers this theme of imperfection and the inevitability of making mistakes. The speaker confesses to the possibility of lying or hurting those they love, acknowledging the flaws that come with being human. The mention of their mother, specifically, emphasizes the emotional weight of these mistakes—perhaps showing that, despite their flaws, they still care deeply about the people in their life.
But ultimately, the speaker resolves, “but if I’m going to die, I believe it’s alright.” This final line represents acceptance and peace. Despite the mistakes and the acknowledgment of imperfection, the speaker is at peace with their life and, if death is inevitable, they have come to terms with it. It’s not a defeatist attitude, but rather one of reconciliation—life is short, mistakes happen, and no one is perfect. However, the speaker can say, “I believe it’s alright,” because they lived life true to themselves, even in all its messiness.
In essence, these lyrics speak to the human experience: the striving to live authentically, the inevitability of imperfection, and the peace that comes with accepting that we’re all doing the best we can.
