Unpacking “Incomprehensible”: A Lyric Analysis of Aging, Freedom, and Self-Acceptance

Introduction: The Power of “Incomprehensible” Lyrics

In the crowded field of modern music, a song truly stands out when its lyrics tap into universal experiences while maintaining a unique voice. “Incomprehensible,” with its repeated refrain and seven dynamic verses, strikes this balance perfectly. This lyrics analysis will explore how the writer uses poetic devices—imagery, symbolism, and introspection—to connect with listeners across generations.

Verse 1: Journey and Nostalgia

“Highway 17, cotton candy rain
Driving with my lover, we missed our plane
So we added on the hours to see the lupine flowers
Way out past the border, we blew through Thunder Bay”

• Imagery & Setting:
  • Highway 17 immediately grounds the song in a real, open-road scenario—a classic symbol of freedom and escape.
  • Cotton candy rain juxtaposes the harshness of rain with a whimsical color palette, suggesting that even setbacks (missing the plane) can be sweetened.
  • Lupine flowers serve as a metaphor for spontaneous detours—emphasizing that life’s unexpected turns often lead to beauty.
  • Thunder Bay indicates a specific location in Ontario, Canada, reinforcing the authenticity and specificity of the journey.
• Emotional Undertone:
  • Missing a flight can represent missed opportunities, but the decision to extend the trip captures optimism and living in the moment.
  • The verse sets the theme of embracing detours—a concept that echoes throughout the song.

Verse 2: Nature and Reflection

“The pine trees are narrow, a billion broken arrows
The ravens and the crows, robins and the sparrows
All across Ontario, static on the stereo
Went swimming in the lake, Old Woman Bay”

• Nature as Metaphor:
  • Pine trees … narrow, a billion broken arrows paints an image of trees as silent sentinels—each “arrow” pointing skyward, yet individually “broken,” hinting at fragility.
  • Bird references (ravens, crows, robins, sparrows) symbolize different facets of life: darkness (ravens/crows) and hope (robins/sparrows).
• Static on the Stereo:
  • The static suggests background noise—comparable to life’s distractions—while the repeated references to nature encourage the listener to pay attention, to slow down.
• Swimming in Old Woman Bay:
  • This specific locale conjures serenity and connection. The act of swimming becomes an immersion in memories, cleansing the mind.

Verse 3: Carrying the Past

“Traveling with some stuff I left when I was a kid
Mr. Bear and the wooden box I hid
Full of broken gadgets that mean nothin' now
The only thing I'll keep are the letters and the photographs”

• Childhood Mementos:
  • Mr. Bear and a wooden box point to childhood innocence and the comfort of familiarity.
  • Broken gadgets represent outdated goals or dreams—things that once mattered but now feel irrelevant.
• Selective Memories:
  • Deciding to keep only letters and photographs signifies valuing emotional connections over material items. It underscores the theme of preserving authentic memories.

Verses 4–6: Aging, Society, and Family Legacy

Verse 4:
“In two days it's my birthday and I'll be thirty-three
That doesn't really matter next to eternity
But I like a double number, and I like an odd one too
And everything I see from now on will be somethin' new”

Verse 5:
“'I'm afraid of getting older', that's what I've learned to say
Society has given me the words to think that way
The message spirals, 'Don't get saggy, don't get grey'
But the soft and lovely silvers are now falling on my shoulder”

Verse 6:
“My mother and my grandma, my great-grandmother too
Wrinkle like the river, sweeten like the dew
And as silver as the rainbow scales that shimmer purple blue
How can beauty that is living be anything but true?”

• Verses 4–5: Confronting Age & Societal Pressure:
  • Turning thirty-three is less a literal milestone and more a reflection on “eternity”—the tension between finite lifespans and infinite aspirations.
  • The fear of aging (“Don't get saggy, don't get grey”) echoes societal norms about youth. Yet the “soft and lovely silvers” portray this change as natural and even beautiful.
• Verse 6: Family as a Mirror:
  • The mention of mother, grandma, and great-grandmother highlights generational continuity.
  • Comparing wrinkles to a river and dew symbolizes the idea that aging, like flowing water, is both inevitable and essential.
  • The “rainbow scales” evoke a magical realism, suggesting that elderhood carries its own kind of radiant beauty.

Verse 7 & Outro: Embracing Authenticity

Verse 7:
“So let gravity be my sculptor, let the wind do my hair
Let me dance in front of people without a care
Let me be naked alone with nobody there
With mismatched socks and shoes and stuff stuffed in my underwear”

Outro:
“Incomprehensible, let me be
Incomprehensible, let me be
Incomprehensible, let me be”

• Verse 7: Liberation & Freedom:
  • Gravity as sculptor and wind in hair evoke a surrender to natural forces—an acknowledgment that we cannot control every aspect of life.
  • Dancing without a care and being naked alone signify ultimate authenticity: shedding external expectations and societal judgments.
• Outro Refrain: “Incomprehensible, let me be”
  • This closing line becomes a mantra. By calling themselves “incomprehensible,” the narrator rejects the notion that they must be understood or fit into a predefined mold.
  • The repeated “let me be” is both a personal plea and a universal call for self-acceptance.

Themes & Takeaways

1. Embracing Life’s Detours:
   The decision to extend a road trip and chase lupine flowers underscores the importance of spontaneity and gratitude for unexpected journeys.
2. Reframing Aging:
   Instead of fearing age, the narrator sees wrinkles and silver hair as testaments to a life well-lived.
3. Letting Go of Material Attachments:
   By choosing to keep only letters and photographs, the song highlights the value of emotional connections over physical objects.
4. Authenticity & Freedom:
   The final plea—“let me be”—captures the universal desire to live without apology, to be “incomprehensible” on one’s own terms.

Conclusion: Why “Incomprehensible” Resonates

This lyric analysis shows how “Incomprehensible” uses rich imagery, family references, and self-reflection to craft a narrative about growth and liberation. The juxtaposition of a scenic road trip, personal memories, and candid reflections on aging makes the song both relatable and profound.