A Mother's Reflection: Halsey's "I Believe in Magic"
"I Believe in Magic" is a poignant and introspective track from Halsey's album "The Great Impersonator" that delves into the complexities of motherhood and aging. The song's stripped-down production, featuring a gentle acoustic guitar and Halsey's raw vocals, creates an intimate atmosphere that draws the listener into her personal reflections. While the mix of the guitar and vocals could be improved, the emotional impact of the song remains strong.
A Bittersweet Ode to Growth and Change
Halsey's lyrics are deeply affecting, exploring the bittersweet realization that her son is growing up and will face his own challenges in the world. The lines "I wonder if the world will treat him any better than it treated me" and "I remind myself a time will come when he sees me turn grey" are particularly heart-wrenching, showcasing the vulnerability and anxieties that come with parenthood. The song also touches on Halsey's relationship with her own mother, drawing parallels between their experiences and highlighting the cyclical nature of life.
Finding Hope and Wonder
Despite the heavy themes, "I Believe in Magic" retains a sense of hope and wonder. The chorus, with its declaration of belief in magic, sin, heaven, and love, suggests a yearning for something beyond the everyday, a search for meaning and connection in the face of life's uncertainties. The inclusion of Halsey's son, Ender, in the background adds another layer of tenderness to the track, emphasizing the love and devotion that fuels her reflections.
Echoes of Inspiration
Halsey's revelation that the song was inspired by Linda Ronstadt adds an interesting dimension to the listening experience. While the musical styles may differ, there's a shared sense of vulnerability and emotional honesty in their work. "I Believe in Magic" feels like a heartfelt tribute to the enduring power of love and the challenges of navigating life's transitions.
A Captivating Exploration of Life and Love
"I Believe in Magic" is a standout track on "The Great Impersonator." It's a moving exploration of motherhood, aging, and the search for meaning, delivered with Halsey's characteristic rawness and vulnerability. While the production could be refined, the song's emotional depth and lyrical poignancy make it a truly captivating listen.
Listen to Halsey I Believe In Magic
Halsey I Believe In Magic Lyrics Meaning Explained
The meaning of "I Believe In Magic" by Halsey is a multifaceted exploration of the passage of time, the complexities of motherhood, and the evolving relationships between a mother and child. Through introspective lyrics and vulnerable vocals, Halsey delves into the bittersweet realization of her son's growth, her own anxieties about the future, and the poignant parallels she observes between her life and that of her aging mother. The song is a tapestry woven with threads of love, loss, and the search for meaning, ultimately offering a powerful testament to the enduring strength of familial bonds and the importance of cherishing each moment.
A Mother's Love and Reflection: Deconstructing Halsey's "I Believe in Magic"
A Son's Journey and a Mother's Worries
Halsey's "I Believe in Magic" is a tapestry woven with threads of love, loss, and the passage of time. The opening verse paints a vivid picture of her son at almost three years old, his features shifting from those of his father to mirror her own. This observation sparks a reflection on his journey toward independence, symbolized by the "apple rolling real far from the tree." She acknowledges his sweetness and carefree spirit, but a mother's worry creeps in as she wonders if the world will be kinder to him than it was to her. The line "But papa, don't you preach" echoes Madonna's iconic song, connecting to themes of societal judgment and a woman's right to make her own choices about motherhood. Halsey asserts her own experience and desire to instill in her son the value of hard work while believing that good things should be accessible to all.
Vulnerability and a Yearning for Growth
The pre-chorus introduces a sense of vulnerability and a yearning for growth. The imagery of "roots above and branches down below" could symbolize the shifting dynamics in her relationships with both her son and her aging mother. A heartfelt plea emerges: "Please tell my boy I love him so / Please tell the world I have to grow before I go / I just wanted you to know." This raw expression of love and desire for personal evolution sets the stage for the chorus.
A Complex Belief System and the Power of Love
In the chorus, Halsey reveals a complex belief system, acknowledging both the magical and the sinful, the heavenly and the earthly. Her son's arrival ignited a newfound faith in love, referring to him as her "little twin." This metaphor suggests a profound connection and perhaps a recognition of herself in him. She hints at a need for self-improvement, admitting, "I think I might start tryin' because I haven't been."
Facing Mortality and the Weight of Experience
Verse two delves into the poignant reality of her mother's aging. Time seems to accelerate for her mother, a phenomenon Halsey describes as "every year that passes for me passes her a hundredfold." This observation leads to a reflection on their past relationship, where she admits to siding with her father, possibly at her mother's expense. Now a mother herself, she empathizes with her mother's struggles and regrets her past actions. The weight of single parenthood and the rapid pace of her son's growth are palpable in lines like "Became a single mom, just crushed under a rake / Of a child growing faster than I think that I can take / I love him anyway."
Expressing Love and Embracing the Future
Halsey then anticipates a future moment when her son will recognize her own mortality, just as she did with her mother. This realization motivates her to express love and appreciation openly. The song concludes with a tender outro, the "da-da-da" and "la-la-la" acting as a soothing lullaby that reinforces the song's core themes of love, loss, and the relentless march of time. "I Believe in Magic" is a poignant testament to the complexities of motherhood, aging, and the ever-evolving relationships between a mother and her child.
Halsey I Believe In Magic Lyrics
[Verse 1]
My son is almost three
He used to look just like his dad
But right now he looks just like me
And as far as I can see, the fruit I bear is sweet
But the apple's rolling real far from the tree
And falling down the hill so full of love and so carefree
I wonder if the world will treat him any better than it treated me
But papa, don't you preach
I tried to teach him every day that nothing good is free, but always should be
[Pre-Chorus]
And with my roots above and all my branches down below
Please tell my boy I love him so
Please tell the world I have to grow beforе I go
I just wanted you to know
[Chorus]
That I believе in magic and I believe in sin
I still believe in Heaven, if they'll never let me in
I started to believe in love the day I met my little twin
I think I might start tryin' because I haven't been
[Verse 2]
My Momma's getting old
Well, it's contagious and you'll catch it like a cold
She won't admit it, but it's something that I know
'Cause every year that passes for me passes her a hundredfold
Back in the day, my dad and I would share a laugh at all of her mistakes
But that alliance didn't save me from her fate
No, it didn't, I'm still twenty-eight
Became a single mom, just crushed under a rake
Of a child growing faster than I think that I can take
I love him anyway
And I remind myself a time will come when he sees me turn grey
And realize it's too late, like I did with my mother
So now I tell her to her face
[Pre-Chorus]
With my roots above and all my branches down below
Please tell my mom I love her so
Please tell the world I have to grow before I go
I just wanted you to know
[Chorus]
That I believe in magic and I still believe in sin
I still believe in Heaven, if they'll never let me in
I started to believe in love the day I met my little twin
And I might start tryin' because I haven't been
[Outro]
I haven't been, da-da-da-da
Da-da-da-da-la-la
Da-da-da-da-la-la
Da-da-da-da-la-la
I love him so
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