If You Wait album cover

London Grammar – Strong Lyrics

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Excuse me for a while
While I'm wide-eyed
And I'm so down caught in the middle
I've excused you for a while
While I'm wide-eyed
And I'm so down caught in the middle

And a lion, a lion, roars would you not listen?
If a child, a child cries would you not forgive them?

Yeah, I might seem so strong
Yeah, I might speak so long
I've never been so wrong
I might seem so strong
Yeah, I might speak so long
I've never been so wrong

Excuse me for a while,
Turn a blind eye
With a stare caught right in the middle
Have you wondered for a while
I have a feeling deep down?
You're caught in the middle

If a lion, a lion roars would you not listen?
If a child, a child cries would you not forgive them?

Yeah, I might seem so strong
Yeah, I might speak so long
I've never been so wrong
I might seem so strong
Yeah, I might speak so long
I've never been so wrong

Excuse me for a while
While I'm wide-eyed
And I'm so down caught in the middle
Have you wondered for a while
I have a feeling deep down?
You're caught in the middle

Yeah, I might seem so strong
Yeah, I might speak so long
I've never been so wrong
I might seem so strong
Yeah, I might speak so long
I've never been so wrong

About This Song

"Strong" is a haunting exploration of emotional vulnerability disguised as resilience, where the narrator grapples with the exhausting performance of appearing unbreakable while internally crumbling. The song delves into the paradox of strength-how projecting confidence and speaking with authority can actually mask profound uncertainty and pain, with the repeated admission "I've never been so wrong" revealing the cost of maintaining such facades. Hannah Reid's ethereal, gossamer vocals float over sparse, atmospheric production that creates an intimate confessional space, while the minimalist instrumentation-delicate guitar work and subtle electronic textures-mirrors the fragility beneath the surface strength. The metaphors of lions roaring and children crying suggest a plea for basic human compassion and attention, questioning why genuine emotion is so often ignored or dismissed. The production's restraint amplifies the song's emotional weight, with each word hanging in the air like a whispered secret. This tension between vulnerability and the societal expectation to remain "strong" struck a deep chord with listeners, particularly in an era where emotional authenticity was increasingly valued over stoic facades. The track's success helped establish London Grammar's signature sound-turning intimate emotional confessions into expansive, cinematic experiences that feel both deeply personal and universally relatable.

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