July

"July" is a poignant exploration of a toxic relationship characterized by emotional neglect and the painful awareness of its inevitable end. The song delves into the complex emotions of someone who knows they should leave a relationship that is damaging their self-worth but is paralyzed by the fear of change and being alone. The lyrics express a sense of resignation and a heartbreaking plea for the partner to be the one to initiate the breakup. The central theme revolves around the feeling of inadequacy, as highlighted by the line, "'Cause you remind me every day I'm not enough, but I still stay." It's a raw and honest depiction of the internal conflict between the knowledge that the relationship is failing and the emotional inability to walk away. The speaker offers to leave, not out of a lack of love, but as an ultimate act of love for their partner, believing they deserve someone better. This self-sacrificing sentiment underscores the depth of the speaker's pain and low self-esteem within the relationship.

The narrative unfolds from the perspective of someone trapped in a deteriorating relationship. The speaker is in a state of constant anxiety, always holding their breath and counting to ten, trying to manage their reactions to things their partner says. There's a palpable sense of loneliness and sadness, as the speaker holds back tears while their partner is out drinking, leaving them alone. This dynamic is rooted in a deep-seated fear of change, which is the confessed reason why they both remain in this painful stasis. The speaker then makes a heart-wrenching offer: they give their partner permission to leave. They promise to pack their bags and go, suggesting their partner can find someone who loves them better. This sentiment is fueled by the partner's constant reminders that the speaker isn't 'enough,' yet despite this emotional erosion, they stay. The relationship feels like an eternity of just trying to survive while both individuals are emotionally 'dying inside.' The speaker acknowledges their own faults, admitting that loving their partner was a mistake, but they still feel unable to move on, again citing their fear of change as the anchor. The plea becomes more direct and desperate, urging the partner, 'If you want me to leave, then tell me to leave and, baby, I'll go.' The song culminates in the painful, recurring admission that even with the daily reminders of their inadequacy, the speaker remains, caught in a cycle of emotional pain and indecision, waiting for the other person to make the final move.

"July" was written by Noah Cyrus, PJ Harding (Peter James Harding), and Michael Sonier. The song was produced by Michael Sonier. It was released on July 31, 2019, as the lead single from Cyrus's second EP, The End of Everything (2020). The song came together at a songwriting camp in Bali. Noah Cyrus has stated that the song is deeply personal and was written during a period of emotional turmoil, reflecting on a difficult breakup that happened on July 4th of the previous year after a two-and-a-half-year relationship. She explained that sharing her story with her co-writers, whom she had just met, was a vulnerable process, but they found common ground in their shared experiences with difficult relationships. The track marked a sonic shift for Cyrus towards a more acoustic, Americana, and country-influenced sound. A popular duet version featuring American soul singer Leon Bridges was released on November 8, 2019, which helped propel the song's popularity.

The song's rhythm is defined by a slow, melancholic tempo that creates a calm and introspective atmosphere. Musically, it is built around simple chord progressions, typically involving A-minor, C-major, and F-major, which are common in folk and pop music and allow the focus to remain on the lyrics and vocal performance. The strumming pattern is often described as simple and incorporates techniques like palm-muting to create a more subdued, gentle vibe. The rhyme scheme is generally simple and direct, often using couplets (AABB) or alternating rhymes within its verses, such as "breath"/"said" and "tears"/"beers" in the opening lines. This contributes to the song's straightforward and honest lyrical quality. The lyrical rhythm is conversational and flows naturally over the acoustic guitar, enhancing the sense of personal storytelling and emotional vulnerability.

"July" is characterized by its stripped-back, minimalist production, which puts Noah Cyrus's raw and emotive vocals at the forefront. The primary instrument is a simple acoustic guitar, providing a gentle, folk-country accompaniment that enhances the song's intimacy and vulnerability. The musical style is a departure from Cyrus's earlier trap-pop work, embracing an Americana and folk-infused ballad form. Her vocal delivery is wounded and smoky, conveying a deep sense of sadness and resignation. The use of multi-part harmonies adds force and texture to key moments, particularly in the chorus. The lyrics are written in a simple, conversational style, using direct and relatable language to express complex emotional states like fear of change and feelings of inadequacy. The structure is straightforward, following a traditional verse-chorus pattern, which makes the emotional plea of the chorus particularly memorable and impactful.

"July" became a significant sleeper hit for Noah Cyrus, showcasing a new, mature Americana sound that distinguished her within the pop landscape. The song gained immense popularity on platforms like TikTok, which contributed to its longevity and widespread recognition. It achieved significant commercial success, being certified multi-platinum in numerous countries, including 7x Platinum in Canada, 5x Platinum in Australia, and 4x Platinum in the US. The duet version with Leon Bridges helped the song enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The success of the song and its parent EP, The End of Everything, was instrumental in Noah Cyrus earning a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 2021. Critics praised the song for its raw honesty, emotional depth, and stripped-back production. "July" is often cited as a fan favorite and a defining track in Cyrus's discography, solidifying her credibility as a vulnerable and skilled singer-songwriter.

"July" uses simple yet powerful imagery to convey its emotional weight. The title itself, "July," can be seen as symbolic. While not explicitly stated in the lyrics, Noah Cyrus confirmed the song was inspired by a breakup that occurred on the 4th of July, a day typically associated with celebration and fireworks, creating a stark contrast with the song's theme of painful endings. The recurring line, "I've been holding back tears / While you're throwing back beers," uses the concrete image of drinking to symbolize the partner's emotional distance and neglect, leaving the narrator isolated in her sadness. The act of packing bags—"tell me to leave / I'll pack my bags, get on the road"—is a powerful metaphor for the readiness to end the relationship, a tangible action that the narrator is waiting for permission to take. The core metaphor of the song is the toxic dynamic itself, described as "dying inside," which powerfully illustrates the slow, painful decay of their emotional well-being while trying to maintain the relationship.

The most significant recurring phrase in "July" is the chorus, particularly the lines, "'Cause you remind me every day / I'm not enough, but I still stay." This refrain acts as the emotional core of the song, hammering home the central theme of a toxic relationship eroding self-worth. Its repetition emphasizes the cyclical and inescapable nature of the narrator's situation. The phrase "I'm afraid of change / Guess that's why we stay the same" is another crucial recurring motif that explicitly states the reason for her inertia. It appears in the pre-chorus, setting up the painful confession of the chorus. The opening lines, "I've been holding my breath / I've been counting to ten," establish a recurring motif of anxiety and emotional suppression that frames the entire narrative. Finally, the offer, "So tell me to leave," is a recurring plea that highlights the narrator's passivity and desperation for the partner to make the decision to end the pain.