: The opening lines describe trying to "form these feelings into cubes" and sort them in his mind. This highlights a desperate attempt to make sense of overwhelming emotions, separating "negative thoughts" from "happy things" just to function.
: Skinner has shared in livestreams that he originally wrote the song for his mother during a period of significant mental health struggles. He used the lyrics to express his fear that his struggles might make him difficult to love or that his mother might not "like" the version of him he was becoming.
: Skinner describes feeling like he is in a "dream state" where he should have "woken up by now," a common sentiment for those experiencing dissociation or a sense of being stuck in a cycle of poor mental health. Cavetown - Trying
: The lyrics "I've never hated myself more" are balanced by the gratitude for a friend or loved one who is still "trying" to be there.
: By labeling his current state as just a "bump in the road," the song offers a glimmer of hope. It frames the pain not as a permanent failure, but as a difficult phase that requires constant, albeit exhausting, effort to overcome. Impact and Legacy : The opening lines describe trying to "form
by Cavetown (the musical project of Robin Skinner ) is a deeply intimate exploration of mental health, vulnerability, and the exhausting effort required to maintain relationships while struggling with self-loathing. Released as the sixth track on the 2020 album Sleepyhead , the song is actually a re-recorded and refined version of his older track "I Promise I’m Trying" from the 2015 EP Nervous Friends // Pt. 1 . Origins and Personal Meaning
The lyrics use striking metaphors to describe the internal chaos of anxiety and depression: He used the lyrics to express his fear
: During live performances, Skinner has noted that the song helped him navigate the process of coming out, serving as a vehicle for the complex emotions surrounding identity and acceptance. Lyrical Themes: The Mental "Rubik's Cube"