The Shell - Intellectual

Everyone has struggles and problems in their lives but most people try to deal with it internally instead of trying to call for systematic change. And most people do it, because the latter is risker and not as safe. But that’s okay, because there would be not benefit to fixing the world if no one was focused on self preservation.

Likely a tongue in cheek reference to Lucy’s previous album, No Burden, in something of an admission that its title was never quite honest.

Though the subject doesn’t want to be an artist, they still have a message to share with the world. The speaker tells them not to feel forced to write before they’re comfortable.

Many people are capable of handling more responsibility than they obtain because they don’t want to live with the stress of all of that.

Dacus acknowledges the value that she is capable of putting by being an artist, but wishes that she could separate that part of her from the rest of her so she wouldn’t feel like she’s wasting her life.

The first two lines contrast the second two. In the first part, she talks about how lonely and meaningless her life is, which is ironic since she’s considered a home town hero. Dacus manages to obtain a huge amount of fame and impact, but in exchange, she is lonely and unsatisfied with her life.