Daisies

"Daisies" is a deeply personal and powerful anthem of resilience, self-belief, and the unwavering pursuit of one's dreams despite external discouragement. The song's central message is a call to remain true to the course one has set for themselves, regardless of what others may think or say. Katy Perry explained that the song is about chasing your dreams and not allowing anyone or anything to stand in your way. It speaks to the universal experience of being underestimated or called “crazy” for having ambitions that seem unconventional or out of reach to others. The lyrics directly confront this negativity with a defiant spirit, asserting a commitment to one's own path until the very end, encapsulated in the line, “'Til they cover me in daisies, daisies, daisies.” This phrase is a play on the idiom “pushing up daisies,” which means to be dead and buried. In the context of the song, Perry transforms this morbid expression into a symbol of lifelong perseverance; she will not be changed by others' opinions for her entire life.

The song also emerged from a period of personal struggle for Perry, who wrote it after experiencing a dark time and clinical depression following the reception of her previous album, Witness. As such, "Daisies" serves as an anthem for herself, a “nugget of inspiration” to reaffirm her own identity and stay true to her past. Perry has drawn parallels between "Daisies" and her earlier empowerment anthems like "Firework" and "Roar," noting that they often come from a place of personal darkness and are her way of writing her way out of it.

Initially written before the COVID-19 pandemic, the song took on a new, broader meaning for Perry in light of global events. It became a message of strength and resilience for a world facing uncertainty, encouraging listeners to reflect on dreams they may have put aside and to pursue them with renewed vigor once free to do so.

The narrative begins with a reflection on past vulnerability, recounting a time when youthful dreams were shared with others, only to be met with laughter and disbelief. The protagonist was dismissed as eccentric and out of touch for harboring such ambitious goals. This initial experience of discouragement is a formative one, planting a seed of doubt. The lyrics then question a collective shift in perspective—a loss of wonder and a tendency to store away powerful aspirations, symbolized by putting hopes “in a box in the attic.” This imagery suggests that dreams are being hidden, left to gather dust rather than being pursued.

As the song progresses, a powerful shift occurs. The protagonist makes a defiant and conscious choice to reclaim those dreams. The core message is a firm rejection of external negativity and a commitment to one's own path, regardless of what critics or doubters may say. The phrase “They tell me that I'm crazy, but I'll never let 'em change me” becomes a central mantra. This isn't just about ignoring negativity, but about persevering until the very end of one's life—a commitment expressed through the poignant metaphor, “'Til they cover me in daisies.” This line cleverly plays on the idiom “pushing up daisies,” transforming a morbid phrase into a symbol of lifelong dedication to one's true self and ambitions.

The narrative continues to build on this theme of self-empowerment. The protagonist identifies with the underdog, describing herself as “the long shot” and “the Hail Mary,” terms from sports that signify a slim chance of success against overwhelming odds. By asking the rhetorical question, “Why can't it be me?”, she challenges the notion that she is unworthy of achieving her goals. It is a moment of profound self-validation. The lyrics paint a picture of a journey already undertaken, with references to stealing back what was taken, trekking through treacherous terrain like poison ivy, and facing metaphorical lions. These images convey a history of struggle and resilience, highlighting the strength gained from overcoming adversity. The mention of a “tiger’s eye” reinforces this theme of fierce determination. The story concludes with a steadfast promise: to continue pursuing her unique path, fueled by her own belief and ignoring the chorus of naysayers, until her life's journey is complete.

"Daisies" was released on May 15, 2020, as the lead single from Katy Perry's sixth studio album, Smile. The song was co-written by Perry with Jonathan Bellion, Jacob Kasher Hindlin, Michael Pollack, and its producers, Jordan K. Johnson and Stefan Johnson of the production duo The Monsters & Strangerz. This same group of songwriters had previously collaborated on Maroon 5's hit "Memories". The track was recorded in 2020 at Unsub Studios in Los Angeles, California.

Perry penned the song after a challenging period in her life, marked by clinical depression following the public and critical reception of her 2017 album, Witness, which did not meet her expectations. "Daisies" was one of the last songs written for the Smile album and emerged from what Perry described as a "nugget of inspiration" to stay true to herself. She explained that the song was written as a reminder to herself and others to persevere in the face of doubt.

Although written before the global lockdown, the song's themes of resilience and chasing dreams took on a new resonance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Perry acknowledged this, stating that the quarantine gave people time to reflect on what they took for granted and the dreams they might have postponed. The song's release was accompanied by a music video directed by Liza Voloshin, which was also impacted by the pandemic. The original, larger-scale video shoot was cancelled, leading to a more naturalistic video filmed on Super 8 film during a hike in California, showcasing a pregnant Perry in a field.

"Daisies" follows a conventional verse-chorus structure typical of pop music, which helps to make its empowering message memorable and impactful. The rhythm is built around a steady 4/4 time signature, starting with a more spacious, ballad-like feel in the verses and building in intensity and rhythmic drive into the pre-chorus and chorus. The tempo is moderate, allowing the lyrics to be clearly articulated while still creating a sense of uplift.

The rhyme scheme is generally consistent, using perfect and near rhymes to create a pleasing lyrical flow. For instance, in the chorus, the AABB rhyme scheme is evident with “crazy” rhyming with “daisies,” and “change me” rhyming again with “daisies.” This simple, effective structure reinforces the key phrases and makes the chorus highly memorable. The verses employ a more varied scheme, but maintain a sense of musicality through assonance and consonance. The interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the musical arrangement is key; the vocals often follow the steady chord progressions of the piano and guitar, but Perry uses phrasing and emphasis to convey the emotion behind the words, particularly in the build-up to the powerful chorus.

Musically, "Daisies" is a pop and electropop power ballad that builds from a gentle start to a soaring, anthemic chorus. The song's arrangement begins with a simple, crisp piano chord progression, which places emphasis on Perry's vocals. As the song progresses, it incorporates strummed acoustic guitars, particularly in the chorus, adding a layer of warmth and driving the track forward. The production is clean and allows Perry's vocal performance to be the central focus, showcasing her range as she moves from softer verses to powerful, high notes in the chorus. Critics have compared its empowering, slow-burning style to her previous hits like "Firework" and "Roar".

Lyrically, the song employs a direct, narrative voice that feels personal and confessional. The use of rhetorical questions like “When did we all stop believing in magic?” and “Why can't it be me?” serves to engage the listener and universalize the song's themes of lost wonder and underdog ambition. The central lyrical hook relies on the clever re-contextualization of the idiom “pushing up daisies,” turning a common phrase about death into a personal motto of lifelong perseverance. This demonstrates a sophisticated use of figurative language to convey the song's core message of resilience.

Upon its release on May 15, 2020, "Daisies" served as the lead single for Katy Perry's album Smile. The song was met with positive reception from music critics, who praised it as an empowering, "Firework"-style anthem that showcased her vocal growth. Commercially, "Daisies" debuted at number 40 on the US Billboard Hot 100, marking Perry's 25th top 40 entry in the country. It also performed well on digital charts, reaching number one on the US iTunes sales chart on its day of release and number three on the Billboard Digital Song Sales chart. The song achieved platinum certifications in Australia, Brazil, and Canada.

Perry promoted the song with several high-profile virtual performances, reflecting the lockdown era in which it was released. The first televised performance was on the American Idol season finale, which utilized advanced mixed-reality technology. She also performed it for Amazon Music's Friday Live series and at the "Can't Cancel Pride" benefit concert, for which a special deep house remix by Oliver Heldens was used. The song's theme of resilience resonated widely during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Perry hoping it would serve as a "soundtrack to going for your dreams" after a period of global reflection and hardship. The song's title also famously fueled speculation about the name of her and Orlando Bloom's daughter, who was ultimately named Daisy Dove Bloom.

The central symbol of "Daisies" is the flower itself, which is used in a multi-layered and clever way. The primary metaphor comes from the idiom “pushing up daisies,” which refers to being dead and buried. Perry rephrases this as “'Til they cover me in daisies,” transforming a morbid concept into a powerful statement of lifelong commitment. It's a poetic way of saying she will remain true to her dreams and her identity until the very end of her life, and only death can stop her.

Beyond this central metaphor, daisies themselves carry symbolic weight. Flowers often represent rebirth and resilience; they may wilt in winter but return in the spring. This aligns with the song's theme of overcoming dark times and finding renewed strength. The image of being “covered in daisies” can also evoke a sense of peace and natural victory after a life lived authentically.

The lyrics also employ other metaphors to illustrate the struggle of pursuing a dream. The line, “They said I was out of my mind,” is juxtaposed with the idea of putting hopes “in a box in the attic,” a metaphor for abandoning or suppressing one's aspirations. Furthermore, the journey is described through vivid imagery of perseverance: “Took those sticks and stones, showed 'em I could build a house” signifies turning criticism into strength, while trekking through “poison ivy” and facing “lions” symbolizes overcoming obstacles and fears. These metaphors contribute to the song's narrative of a hard-won journey toward self-actualization.

The most significant recurring phrase in "Daisies" is the chorus's defiant declaration: “They tell me that I'm crazy, but I'll never let 'em change me / 'Til they cover me in daisies, daisies, daisies.” This line functions as the song's central thesis, encapsulating the themes of resilience, individuality, and lifelong commitment to one's path. Its repetition drills the core message into the listener's mind, turning it into a powerful, personal anthem.

The word “crazy” itself is a recurring motif. It appears in the opening verse (“Told them your dreams, and they all started laughing”) and is directly addressed in the chorus. This motif highlights the societal tendency to dismiss ambitious or unconventional dreams as foolish or insane, a perception the protagonist actively fights against throughout the song.

Another key recurring idea is that of the underdog, expressed through phrases like “I'm the long shot” and “the Hail Mary.” This motif frames the singer's journey as a battle against the odds, making her determination and eventual triumph feel more earned and inspiring. The rhetorical question, “Why can't it be me?” reinforces this underdog theme, challenging preconceived limitations and asserting her right to succeed.