by Paisley Kwok
A young writer traces her emotional journey through the lyrics that helped her understand friendship, identity, and the courage to grow.
Music is a universal language for emotional expression. As a person who finds solace in songs and soundtracks, it was something that always felt comforting and called to me at different points in my life.
Like the first time I realised life was not the sunshine and rainbows I expected it to be, I remember relating to the lyrics of Taylor Swift’s You’re on Your Own, Kid.
I had a friend from kindergarten, and we were basically inseparable until we grew apart. A part of me wanted to cling to the friendship I’d built with her:
I play it cool with the best of them
I found myself holding onto something that was dear to me, but I’d lost my friend without realising it. I now would do anything to be aligned with a certain friend group and emulate how they behaved.
I searched the party of better bodies
Just to learn that you never cared
The feelings I was clinging onto seemed wasted and all I felt was grief and anger. That’s when I decided to reflect what I had done wrong, and what I needed to work on. It was an overwhelming and dreadful process.
Back in the present, having moved on with new friends, looking back has its own lessons to teach: cherish friends as they can get lost in time. The lyrics also seemed like an encouragement for me to do the stuff that matters to me in the moment.
You always have been
As someone who prefers solitude, there is concern about me being alone. The song implies that being on my own need not be something scary or pessimistic. Instead, it reminds me that I can face hardships on my own and still live the life I desire.
As Taylor provided the soundtrack for that moment in my life, If Only, accompanied me in another instance. From the Disney Channel Original Movie Descendants, the song is performed by Dove Cameron, who plays Mal, the daughter of Maleficent, and helped me when I was making statements like, “If only I hadn’t intervened with something, it’ll be alright.”
Should I let my heart keep listening
As the character overthinks everything, like everyone else when they lose someone they’ve resonated with, or when they are trying to discover their true identity, especially in the process of maturing, the song is placed as an emotional centrepiece, slowing down the other fast-paced, high-energy musical numbers.
to someone I, I have never been
The contrast allows the audience to connect directly with Mal’s inner life. It serves as a moment of genuine, non-magical, and personal reflection, which grounds Mal’s character and makes her journey more meaningful to the viewer.
Should I let my heart keep listening
This expresses a fundamental anxiety in any friendship: If I stop trying to be who you want me to be, and I show you my flaws and my real self, will you still love me?
A question that transcends the fantasy setting.
This honesty is a huge reason why fans, including myself, connect with it. It felt weird because I hadn’t really made my own decisions before, and that moment of freedom felt unfamiliar.
We have, no matter our age, experienced these emotions at some point, when looking back tasting the bittersweet memories: bitter enough to remember the hurt; and sweet enough to feel released.
My young life has already been a bumpy ride. To all of you out there, struggling to find your true selves, and not letting yourself down because of criticism, I’d say it takes time to heal and grow wings. Looking back will become a lesson in who you want to be.
And in all these moments, there are soundtracks to journey with you. ■
Paisley Kwok, 14, is a student from HKFYG Lee Shan Kee College. She is passionate about writing and reading books, while seeking opportunities to maximise learning.