To Be Outside Yourself

Sky Ferreira “I Blame Myself”

“I Blame Myself” is about dealing with fame, but it’s coming at that topic from a very interesting angle: Not being all that famous, but having to reckon with having an image, career, and reputation of your own making that supersedes what may be your actual self. Ferreira’s lyrics are specific to her own life – the second verse is heavy on biographical detail – but the sentiment is resonant for anyone who has to reconcile the person people expect them to be and who they feel like they are. There’s a lot of anxiety and mixed feelings in this song. She worries about people wanting something from her that she can’t give, she tries to make you understand where she’s coming from, she understands your perspective but resents it all the same, she blames herself. She’s trying to figure out whether she has some advantage in this situation, but you can tell she feels a little powerless. That’s part of why the chorus feels so triumphant – she’s being assertive and taking something back, even if it’s not very effective or meaningful.

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