Lonely

"Lonely" is a raw and unflinching exploration of Noah Cyrus's struggles with mental health, particularly depression, anxiety, and profound loneliness. The song serves as a direct confessional, stripping away pretense to reveal deep-seated feelings of isolation, inadequacy, and a desperate need for connection. Lyrically, it addresses themes of self-sabotage ("I'm slowly killing myself"), the pressure to succeed, and the pain of feeling disconnected from family and peers. Cyrus uses the song to articulate the experience of being surrounded by people yet feeling completely alone, a sentiment she wanted to capture in the song's music video. The repeated plea, "Can't someone help me?" is not just a lyrical hook but the central, heartfelt message of the track, a cry for help from a place of deep emotional pain. It touches on unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as excessive spending and using alcohol to numb feelings, and the act of feigning connection in social situations. Ultimately, the song is a vulnerable admission of trauma and struggle, intended to resonate with listeners experiencing similar battles and to encourage them to seek help.

The narrative opens with a confession of self-destruction and a feeling of being overlooked, like an item forgotten on the “back of the shelf.” The singer feels trapped in a monotonous cycle, creating art—writing songs—that feels futile, destined to remain unheard. There's a profound sense of confusion about right and wrong, coupled with an absence of romance and the looming pressure of mortality. A recurring thought is the desire to make family proud before it's too late, a weight that compounds the feeling of isolation. This culminates in a direct and desperate cry for help, a plea to anyone or anything to alleviate the overwhelming sickness of loneliness. The chorus emphasizes a deep yearning for family, reinforcing that this feeling of isolation is not just social but deeply rooted in a disconnect from loved ones.

The second verse delves into unhealthy coping mechanisms. The singer is spending beyond their means and using alcohol to numb the pain and the feeling of not measuring up to someone else (“to forget I'm not her”). Social gatherings, like parties, offer no real solace. Instead, they become a stage for pretense, where a fleeting physical connection with a stranger is used to mask the inner turmoil for a night. This behavior stems from a lack of self-identity and lingering shame over a past self. The effort to fit in is immense, but it consistently fails, leaving the singer feeling like they've “missed the mark.” This reinforces the cycle of loneliness and desperation, leading back to the raw, unfiltered plea for help in the chorus. The song concludes by reiterating this central cry, fading on the pervasive and crushing feeling of being utterly alone.

"Lonely" was written by Noah Cyrus and Roland "Rollo" Spreckley during a particularly dark period in the singer's life. Cyrus has described the song as containing "all of my heart and soul," born from her personal struggles with mental health and feeling out of place. The track was produced by Dan Gleyzer and Spreckley. Released on September 27, 2019, through Columbia Records, it was the second single from her eventual 2020 EP, "The End of Everything". Cyrus stated that creating the song was a pivotal moment for her, as it put her on the path to seeking professional help. She expressed her hope that the song's honesty would do the same for fans who might be struggling. The music video, co-directed by Cyrus and Symone Ridgell, was released on October 7, 2019, and was designed to visually represent the song's themes of vulnerability and the need for human connection.

"Lonely" follows a relatively simple and consistent structure, which supports its direct and confessional lyrical style. The rhyme scheme in the verses is primarily AABB (e.g., "myself"/"shelf", "day"/"played"). This straightforward pattern makes the lyrics feel accessible and diary-like, enhancing their sincerity. The rhythm is slow and deliberate, driven by the piano ballad arrangement. The tempo is melancholic, allowing each word and emotional nuance in Cyrus's vocal delivery to land with significant impact. The lyrical rhythm is conversational, mirroring natural speech patterns, which further contributes to the song's feeling of raw honesty. There is a notable dynamic shift in the chorus where the rhythm feels more expansive, especially with the addition of the choir, reflecting the growing desperation and scale of the singer's emotional plea.

Musically, "Lonely" is a stripped-back piano ballad, a choice that enhances its raw emotional weight. The arrangement is minimalist, focusing on Cyrus's vulnerable and emotive vocal performance. The introduction of a gospel-tinged choir during the chorus adds a layer of sonic and emotional depth, creating a powerful swell that contrasts with the verses' sparseness. This dynamic shift emphasizes the desperation in the plea for help. Lyrically, the song utilizes a direct, first-person narrative voice, creating an intimate and confessional tone. The language is stark and unambiguous (e.g., "I'm slowly killing myself"), a stylistic choice that avoids poetic obscurity in favor of brutal honesty. The repetition of the desperate plea in the chorus functions as a powerful rhetorical device, hammering home the song's central theme of helplessness.

Upon its release, "Lonely" was praised by critics for its raw honesty and vulnerability, solidifying Noah Cyrus's reputation as a songwriter capable of tackling deep, personal themes. While it was a follow-up to the commercially successful "July," "Lonely" served a different purpose, acting more as a statement on mental health awareness than a chart-topping single. The song resonated with fans who saw their own struggles reflected in the lyrics, reinforcing Cyrus's connection with her audience. The track appeared on her acclaimed 2020 EP, "THE END OF EVERYTHING". Cyrus herself stated that the song was a catalyst for her to seek help, and she hoped it would encourage others to do the same, linking the song to a broader conversation about mental health advocacy. The music video, featuring a choir from the Los Angeles LGBT Center's Music Program, was also noted for its powerful visual representation of isolation and community.

The lyrics of "Lonely" employ direct, confessional language more than complex metaphors, but contain powerful imagery and symbolism.

• "Trying so hard at the back of the shelf": This phrase symbolizes feeling invisible, unimportant, and overlooked. It creates an image of a forgotten object, representing the singer's feelings of worthlessness and her struggle to be seen and valued.
• Levitation in the Music Video: In the official music video, Cyrus is seen levitating while surrounded by a choir from the Los Angeles LGBT Center's Music Program. This visual serves as a powerful symbol of isolation and helplessness. While she is the central focus, she is suspended and unable to connect, portraying a state of being emotionally and spiritually detached from the support system around her.
• Kissing a Boy to "pretend for the night": This act is a metaphor for using superficial, fleeting encounters to mask a deeper void of loneliness and lack of self-knowledge. It represents a hollow attempt at connection that ultimately fails to provide any real comfort or solution to her inner turmoil.

The most significant recurring phrase in "Lonely" is the desperate plea, "Help me. Oh, please, someone help me." This line, often repeated with slight variations, forms the emotional core of the song. Its recurrence transforms it from a simple lyric into a raw, insistent cry that anchors the entire track. It signifies the central theme of needing intervention and support for overwhelming emotional pain. Another recurring motif is the feeling of being "so sick of being so lonely." This phrase is repeated at the end of each chorus, functioning as the ultimate summary of the singer's suffering. Its repetition emphasizes the chronic, exhausting nature of her emotional state. The mention of "family" also recurs, highlighting that the loneliness stems not just from a lack of romantic or social connection, but a deep-seated longing for the foundational support of her relatives.