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"Ribs" is a song about the bittersweet process of growing up and realizing that repetitive memories of past moments and childhood account for so much of life. The lyrics, centered around the idea that 'this dream isn't feeling sweet', depict the feeling of growing up and being overwhelmed by both how much life has changed and how quickly that change happened. It is an ode to the nostalgia that comes with feeling lost and the innocence of childhood and emphasizes the need for belonging and feeling comfort in a chaotic world. In the chorus, Lorde sings about how laughter until their ribs get tough would never be enough, signifying that no style of comfort nor nostalgia could truly encapsulate the emotion she is feeling and going through. The song captures the feeling of wanting a time before and the desire to reach for the comfort of those memories, no matter how impossible it may be.
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