Still Standing

TINI's song 'Still Standing' is a powerful anthem of resilience and self-empowerment. The lyrics narrate a journey from vulnerability to strength, depicting a transformation where the protagonist overcomes emotional manipulation and emerges stronger. The opening lines, 'I used to let you tear me apart / I let your words fly through me like darts,' set the stage for a story of someone who once allowed themselves to be deeply affected by another's hurtful words and actions. The metaphor of words as darts highlights the pain inflicted by verbal abuse, while the imagery of water trying to extinguish a fire symbolizes attempts to diminish the protagonist's spirit and light.

As the song progresses, the chorus becomes a declaration of survival and defiance. 'Let the rain crash down over my head / You can rip my heart out of my chest' suggests that no matter how much suffering is endured, the protagonist will not be defeated. The repeated assertion, 'I'll still standing,' serves as a mantra of resilience, emphasizing the strength found in enduring hardship. The metaphor of a crash landing and surviving without a parachute further illustrates the protagonist's newfound independence and self-reliance.

In the latter part of the song, TINI reflects on the past with a sense of clarity and empowerment. 'I used to think that you hung the moon / I'd hang on every word' reveals a past dependency on the manipulator, but now there's a realization of their true nature. The lines 'I feel sorry for you right now / I feel kind of sorry for you now' indicate a shift from anger to pity, recognizing the manipulator's own weaknesses. The song concludes with a reaffirmation of strength and survival, celebrating the beauty in brokenness and the primal instinct to survive and thrive.