‘I'll Be Fine’ by Megan Moroney - Lyrics & Meaning

‘I'll Be Fine’ was released as part of the deluxe version of Megan Moroney's 2024 sophomore album, Am I Okay?, with this track seemingly serving as the keystone of the three additional songs. ‘I'll Be Fine’ inspired the title of the deluxe project, with the Georgia maverick explaining via social media in the lead-up to the record's arrival that she wrote it about her break-up with the muse from ‘Am I Okay?’

Moroney revealed that, given the fact that they'd split up on the day she was due to be recording the rose-tinted, joyful ‘Am I Okay?’, she considered ditching the song and changing the name of the album. However, she decided to stick with it, and ‘I'll Be Fine’ appears to have been the mantra that helped her get through the process.

The instrumentation and composition of ‘I'll Be Fine’ is kept low-key and subdued throughout, and this has the effect of intensifying the vulnerability of the introspective lyrics.

The easygoing strum of Moroney's acoustic guitar blends with her conversational delivery, creating a quietly optimistic ode to holding onto the promise of brighter days.

Ahead the final rendition of the hook, Megan Moroney can be heard saying, “No, the record can't be over, y'all get in here”, before a group of her friends enter. Endearingly, they all sing the chorus together, adding to the uplifting, hopeful feel of ‘I'll Be Fine’.

“My car's got a flat on the side of the road

I'm hungover or dying, I don't really know

And I'm late to work for the third time this week

But I'll be fine, I'll be fine, I'll be fine”

The first couple of verses on ‘I'll Be Fine’ carry a touch of irony, with the narrator lamenting how everything seems to be going wrong, including getting a puncture, being painfully hungover and being late for work. Despite these combined calamities, the protagonist takes a deep breath and repeats the titular affirmation.

“The rent in this city is getting too high

My favorite jeans have been fitting too tight

I found the first line underneath my right eye

But I'll be fine, I'll be fine, I'll be fine”

Here, we get a few more examples of things that are weighing the narrator down, from the extortionate rent prices to her perception that she's gained weight and a wrinkle. It again concludes with the motto of the song, as she clings onto the hope that, regardless of her bleak circumstances, everything will work out for the best.

“I'll be fine if I can get through tonight

If I can get past this dark and make it to daylight

With this bottle of wine and my feelings on ice

I'll be fine, be fine, I'll be fine”

The protagonist determines to take it one step at a time, declaring that the first night since the break-up will be the most painful, as the wound will still be fresh, meaning that - hopefully - each subsequent evening will get easier. She describes her feelings as being ‘on ice’, which links to the reference to alcohol, as whiskey is often taken with ice, as well as highlighting how the narrator has tried to numb her anguish.

“I've been single before, no, this ain't my first time

I'll put on a new dress, and I'll go out tonight

And I'll meet me a man, or I won't, that's alright

I'll be fine, I'll be fine, I'll be fine”

The protagonist grows in confidence as the song progresses, reminding herself that she's been through heartbreak before, so she can draw on that experience to help her overcome the pain this time around. She plans to go out and feel good, underlining that she'll make sure to enjoy herself, regardless of whether or not she meets a new man.

“Yeah, I'll roll with the punches

'Cause that's really just life

I'll be fine, be fine, I'll be fine

I'll be fine, I'll be fine, I'll be fine”

The narrator shrugs her shoulders and admits life will always throw obstacles and ‘punches’ your way, but suggests it's not about what happens to you, it's how you react that matters.

When announcing her deluxe 2024 album, Am I Okay? (I'll Be Fine), Megan Moroney offered a summary of each of the three new tracks. For ‘I'll Be Fine’, she explained, “The 6'2 dream and I broke up the day before I sang vocals for the title track. I remember being in the studio holding back tears thinking ‘How am I gonna sing this every night? Should I just trash this song & rename the album?’ I knew everything was gonna be fine but I needed to talk myself into it & that’s what this song is”.

“My car's got a flat on the side of the road

I'm hungover or dying, I don't really know

And I'm late to work for the third time this week

But I'll be fine, I'll be fine, I'll be fine

-

The rent in this city is getting too high

My favorite jeans have been fitting too tight

I found the first line underneath my right eye

But I'll be fine, I'll be fine, I'll be fine

-

I'll be fine if I can get through tonight

If I can get past this dark and make it to daylight

With this bottle of wine and my feelings on ice

I'll be fine, be fine, I'll be fine

-

I've been single before, no, this ain't my first time

I'll put on a new dress, and I'll go out tonight

And I'll meet me a man, or I won't, that's alright

I'll be fine, I'll be fine, I'll be fine

-

I'll be fine if I can get through tonight

If I can get past this dark and make it to daylight

With this bottle of wine and my feelings on ice

I'll be fine, be fine, I'll be fine

-

I'll be fine if I can get through tonight

If I can get past this dark and make it to daylight

With this bottle of wine and my feelings on ice

I'll be fine, be fine, I'll be fine

Yeah, I'll roll with the punches

'Cause that's really just life

I'll be fine, be fine, I'll be fine

I'll be fine, I'll be fine, I'll be fine

-

(No, the record can't be over, y'all get in here)

I'll be fine if I can get through tonight

If I can get past this dark and make it to daylight

With this bottle of wine and my feelings on ice

I'll be fine, I'll be fine, I'll be fine

I'll be fine, I'll be fine, I'll be fine”

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