Adele – I Drink Wine. Lyrics & Meaning
Adele – I Drink Wine : A Toast to Letting Go of Who We’re Supposed to Be
Ever get that feeling you’re just… drowning in expectations? You know the one. It’s like you’re playing a character in your own life, trying to be the perfect partner, the ideal friend, the successful professional—all while the real you is somewhere inside, waving a tiny white flag. You’re trying so hard to keep climbing, but the air just gets thinner, and you start to wonder what you’re even climbing for.
Well, it seems like the queen of soul-stirring ballads, Adele, knows that feeling all too well. She bottled it up, gave it a stunning piano melody, and served it to us as one of the most powerful tracks on her album “30.” But this song is so much more than a sad tune; it’s a deeply honest conversation about shedding the person you think you should be to finally embrace the person you truly are.
Pouring the First Glass: What “I Drink Wine” by Adele is Really About
- Adele – When We Were Young : A Photograph for a Fading Memory
- Adele – Rolling In The Deep : An Anthem of Hell’s Fury and Rebirth
- Adele – Easy On Me : A Heartbreaking Plea for Grace
- Adele – Water Under The Bridge : It’s Now or Never, Baby
- Adele – Hometown Glory : A Bittersweet Love Letter to Where We’re From
- Adele – Make You Feel My Love [originally by Bob Dylan] : An Anthem of Unconditional Devotion
- Adele – Chasing Pavements : The Agony of an Unanswered Question
- Adele – I Drink Wine : A Toast to Letting Go of Who We’re Supposed to Be
- Adele – Someone Like You : A Beautifully Painful Guide to Letting Go
- Adele – Lovesong [originally by The Cure] : The Purest Form of Unconditional Love
From the very first lines, Adele isn’t just singing; she’s holding a mirror up to our own messy, complicated lives. She kicks things off with some heavy-hitting questions that feel like they were pulled straight from a late-night therapy session.
How can one become so bounded by choices that somebody else makes?
How come we’ve both become a version of a person we don’t even like?
Oof. That’s the sound of a truth bomb. She’s talking about losing yourself, either to please a partner or to fit into a mold society created for you. It’s that slow, creeping realization that the reflection staring back at you feels like a stranger. Then, she beautifully contrasts this heavy adult reality with the simple wonder of childhood.
When I was a child, every single thing could blow my mind
Soaking it all up for fun, but now I only soak up wine
This isn’t just about drinking. The “wine” here is a powerful metaphor for a coping mechanism. As kids, we soak up life, experiences, and joy. As adults, weighed down by pressure and disillusionment, we sometimes find ourselves soaking up something to numb it all, to just get through the day. It’s a heartbreakingly relatable shift from pure joy to managed survival.
The Heart of the Matter: Uncorking the Chorus
If the verses set the stage, the chorus is the raw, emotional thesis of the entire song. It’s where Adele lays her cards on the table, and it’s a message we all need to hear.
So I hope I learn to get over myself
Stop tryin’ to be somebody else
So we can love each other for free
Everybody wants somethin’, you just want me
Let’s break that down. “Getting over myself” isn’t about self-loathing. It’s about letting go of the ego, the pride, and the self-consciousness that holds us back. It’s about shedding the insecurities that make us build walls. And “love each other for free”? That’s the goal, isn’t it? Love without conditions, without the baggage of expectations or the need to perform. The final line is the emotional anchor. For someone as famous as Adele, the idea that “everybody wants somethin'” is her daily reality. But at its core, it’s a universal feeling. We live in a world that constantly asks for more from us. Finding that one person who doesn’t want a piece of your success, your image, or your potential—they just want you—is the most profound connection of all.
Navigating the “Crazy Times” and High Tides
The song continues to explore this internal battle, touching on our modern obsession with external validation. It’s a theme that hits especially hard in the age of social media.
Why am I obsessin’ about the things I can’t control?
Why am I seekin’ approval from people I don’t even know?
She’s basically calling out the exhausting cycle of chasing likes, comments, and the approval of strangers online while neglecting our own inner peace. Later in the bridge, she offers a surprising piece of wisdom: “Sometimes, the road less traveled is a road best left behind.” We’re often told to take the hard path, but Adele suggests that sometimes, choosing peace and walking away from a difficult, painful road is the bravest and wisest choice you can make.
The Outro: A Raw, Unfiltered Confession
Just when you think the song has given you all it can, Adele ends with a spoken-word outro that feels like listening to a private voice memo. It’s raw, unfiltered, and deeply personal. She talks about regret, bad timing, and the “most turbulent period” of her life. This snippet of conversation transforms the song from a general anthem into a specific, heartbreaking story. It’s a reminder that behind these huge, universal feelings are real, individual heartaches and memories that shape us.
So, what’s the big takeaway here? “I Drink Wine” isn’t a song promoting drinking. It’s a profound exploration of self-acceptance and the struggle to find authenticity in a world that demands performance. It’s a permission slip to be messy, to be a work in progress, and to prioritize genuine connection over a flawless facade. The moral message is a powerful one: the most important journey you can take is the one back to yourself.
But that’s just my take on it. This song is so rich and layered, I’m sure it hits everyone differently. What does “I Drink Wine” mean to you? Did a specific line jump out and grab you? Let’s chat about it in the comments below!
