‘I'm Still Fine’ by The Red Clay Strays - Lyrics and Meaning

Arriving as part of The Red Clay Strays’ sophomore album, Made by These Moments, ‘I'm Still Fine’ captures the running theme of contending with self-doubt, depression and anxiety, with the band's frontman - Brandon Coleman - outlining his strife.

However, as is the case with other soul-baring offerings on Made by These Moments, such as ‘Drowning’, ‘Wanna Be Loved’ and ’Devil in My Ear’, The Red Clay Strays offer a glimmer of hope as the protagonist holds fast to the comfort he finds in his faith. ‘I'm Still Fine’ was penned solely by Matthew Coleman, the videographer for The Red Clay Strays and brother of the band's frontman, Brendan.

Brandon Coleman's vocals take centre-stage, with his charismatic, weighty delivery virtually a cappella for the opening lines, accentuating the emotion behind the vulnerable lyrics.

As ‘I'm Just Fine’ progresses, the sauntering electric guitar and emphatic drum pattern enter the fray, both of which combine seamlessly with Coleman's evocative, commanding voice. The Red Clay Strays later strip everything away before the emotional final hook, enhancing the gravitas as the track reaches its dramatic crescendo.

“Sometimes I feel, like I can't feel
This isn't real
I should be hurtin'
I was alone, I was a song
Music and bone
God's perfect wordin'”

Brandon Coleman opens ‘I'm Still Fine’ by conveying his feeling of apathy, with the clever transition from ‘I feel like I can't feel’ emphasising his numbness. The lyrics contain a plethora of paradoxes, which outline how the protagonist keeps almost taking a step back from his emotions and frustratedly asking why he's this indifferent.

He's been feeling down prior to this and he knows he “should be hurtin”, so he can't understand why he's got this sense of numbness, which has seemingly arisen through feeling low for so long. Coleman laments being alone, before trying to rouse his self-esteem by describing himself as “a song / Music and bone / God's perfect wordin”.

“And could the people understand this?
I'm as bruised as a used-up canvas
I'm awfully nice, but I'm cold as ice
I've been through hell, but I'll be alright”

Coleman continues the imagery of being a work of art, but with a more negative tint, as he compares himself to “a used-up canvas” because of all the emotional damage and bruising he's experienced. We get another piece of juxtaposition here as he describes himself as being “awfully nice, but I'm cold as ice”, before again offering a glimmer of hope, outlining, “I've been through hell, but I'll be alright”.

“People here livin' it up, I think they're blind
I think they're out of their minds
Not one of them has had this
God's not givin' me up, no, I'm just fine
It's just a matter of time
Oh, I don't feel my sadness
I know it should be there
Maybe I'm too tired to care
But I'm still fine”

The narrator wonders how everyone else seems to be achieving contentment and “livin’ it up”, but he cannot manage to find peace, before then determining to lean on his faith and find comfort knowing, “God has not givin’ me up, I'm just fine”.

“I'm on display, I've lost my way
Oh God, I pray
Let this pass over
I lost the note, I rocked the boat
I've even choked
I lost my composure”

He touches on the struggles of being in the spotlight as a musician, and then references his fear that God has helped the wrong person, again accentuating his loss of self-worth. After this, though, he steadies himself and resolves to rely on his trust in God.

Previewing a teaser of the song on social media, the band explained in the caption, “'I’m Still Fine' is a song about being so worn out by everything, you’re just completely numb”.

“Sometimes I feel, like I can't feel
This isn't real
I should be hurtin'
I was alone, I was a song
Music and bone
God's perfect wordin'

-

And could the people understand this?
I'm as bruised as a used-up canvas
I'm awfully nice, but I'm cold as ice
I've been through hell, but I'll be alright

-

People here livin' it up, I think they're blind
I think they're out of their minds
Not one of them has had this
God's not givin' me up, no, I'm just fine
It's just a matter of time
Oh, I don't feel my sadness
I know it should be there
Maybe I'm too tired to care
But I'm still fine

-

I'm on display, I've lost my way
Oh God, I pray
Let this pass over
I lost the note, I rocked the boat
I've even choked
I lost my composure

-

People here livin' it up, I think they're blind
I think they're out of their minds
Not one of them has had this
God's not givin' me up, no, I'm just fine
It's just a matter of time
Though I can't feel my sadness
I know it should be there
Maybe I'm too tired to care
Maybe I've been givin' my love and all my time
Yeah, ya know I'm stronger in the long run
Oh, but Father, I'm afraid You picked the wrong one

-

People here livin' it up, I think they're blind
I think they're out of their minds
Not one of them has had this
God's not givin' me up, no, I'm just fine
It's just a matter of time
Though I can't feel my sadness
I know it should be there
Maybe I'm too tired to care
Maybe I've been givin' my love and all my time
Oh, I know I should be scared
Maybe I'm too tired to care

-

But I'm still fine
Oh-oh
I'm still fine”

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