Discover the story of the song > Sympathy is a Knife – Charli xcx

The lyrics describe the struggles of a girl who feels insecure and overwhelmed by her emotions. She doesn't want to share her space or pretend to be happy, and she's deeply affected by feelings of jealousy and inadequacy when she sees another girl. The protagonist feels like she can't be that other girl and is battling negative thoughts, which make her feel like she's losing control. She expresses distress over her emotions and questions why sympathy, which should be comforting, feels painful instead. Ultimately, she wishes for peace and struggles with the intensity of her feelings.