Shaboozey & Myles Smith – Blink Twice. Lyrics & Meaning
Shaboozey & Myles Smith – Blink Twice : A Wake-Up Call to Actually Live
Ever feel like you’re just going through the motions? You’re checking off boxes, doing the things you’re “supposed” to do, maybe even chasing big, exciting goals. But when you finally stop to catch your breath, you look in the mirror and a stranger looks back. It’s a chilling, unsettling feeling, this sense of being a passenger in your own life. Well, if that feeling has ever crept up on you, there’s a song that perfectly captures that quiet desperation and offers a powerful way out. This track isn’t just music; it’s a conversation about what it means to be truly alive, and we’re about to unpack every layer of it.
The Raw Honesty in “Blink Twice” by Shaboozey & Myles Smith
From the very first lines, Shaboozey and Myles Smith waste no time plunging us into a state of disillusionment. They don’t sugarcoat the experience of burnout or the hollow feeling that can come from chasing a life that looks good on the outside but feels empty on the inside. It’s a raw, honest confession.
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- Shaboozey & Myles Smith – Blink Twice : A Wake-Up Call to Actually Live
That ‘Who Am I?’ Moment
The song kicks off with a line that hits hard for anyone who’s ever felt a disconnect between their actions and their true self:
Living on the edge and finding out it’s kinda dull
Realize I am somebody that I don’t know at all
This isn’t about a lack of excitement; it’s about the soul-crushing realization that the “excitement” you were chasing was meaningless. You reach the goal, you live the “dream,” and discover it’s not fulfilling at all. It leads to that gut-punch of a line: “Realize I am somebody that I don’t know at all.” It’s a profound identity crisis, a feeling of being a stranger in your own skin, worn down from playing a part for too long.
Running on Empty
The song then beautifully illustrates the mental exhaustion that follows this realization. It’s not just physical tiredness; it’s a deep, spiritual fatigue from carrying the weight of an inauthentic life. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a mind spiraling out of control:
Hanging on to hope, I’m losing grip of time and space
Mind is running circles over something I can’t change
You can almost feel the anxiety in these words. That feeling of your thoughts racing, trying to fix something that’s already happened or worrying about a future you can’t predict. This leads to the most relatable question in the entire song:
Am I feeling all the feelings or am I just going numb?
This is the core of the problem. When you’re so overwhelmed, the mind’s defense mechanism is to just… shut down. You stop feeling the highs and the lows. You just exist. And the song suggests that being numb is a far greater tragedy than feeling pain.
The Two-Blink Rule: A Plea for Authenticity
Just when the verses leave you feeling the weight of this existential dread, the chorus bursts through like a ray of sunlight. It’s not a solution, but a powerful, urgent instruction. It’s the central message, the thesis of the entire song.
Oh me, oh my, would you look in my eyes?
We laugh or cry just to feel alive
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
No time for living a lie
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Time flies, so don’t blink twice
Breaking this down is essential. “Look in my eyes” is a desperate plea for genuine connection, both with others and with oneself. It’s about seeing and being seen for who you truly are. Then comes the mission statement: “We laugh or cry just to feel alive.” This is it. The antidote to numbness isn’t constant happiness; it’s the willingness to experience the full spectrum of human emotion. Joy, sorrow, laughter, tears—they are all proof that you are here, that you are participating in life, not just observing it.
The final command, “Time flies, so don’t blink twice,” is a classic carpe diem sentiment, but it feels earned here. It’s not just a cliché; it’s a warning. Life is incredibly short. Every moment spent “living a lie” or being numb is a moment stolen from your finite time. Don’t get so lost in the hustle that you miss it all. Pay attention. Be present.
Not Drowning, But Waving
The second verse adds a layer of resilience to the story. It shows this isn’t a new feeling, but a long battle. It’s a backstory of struggle and survival.
I tried everything I thought that I may need
I’ve been tryna catch my breath since I was seventeen
I’ve hurt, I’ve cried, had way too much to drink
But I won’t let my life drown in that old kitchen sink
This verse is so powerful because it acknowledges the pain and the unhealthy coping mechanisms (“had way too much to drink”) without glorifying them. But it ends on a note of defiant hope. The “kitchen sink” is a symbol of mundane, domestic despair. The declaration “I won’t let my life drown” there is a promise to oneself to fight for a life of meaning, to refuse to let the struggle be the end of the story.
Ultimately, “Blink Twice” is more than just a song; it’s a heartfelt piece of advice from a friend who’s been there. It’s a reminder that it’s okay to feel lost and it’s okay to feel pain. In fact, it’s necessary. The real danger lies in feeling nothing at all. The message is clear: embrace every emotion, live truthfully, and hold on tight, because this beautiful, chaotic ride of life is over in a flash.
What are your thoughts on this track? The beauty of music is how a single song can mean so many different things to different people. Does “Blink Twice” resonate with you in a similar way, or do you hear a completely different story in the lyrics? Let’s talk about it!
