NELDA’s “Everything is Scary” tells a story about people’s bravery to embrace change and the fears that come with it. The song’s lyrics reflect on internal struggle of wanting something more than home’s familiarities even though one may be scared by the thought of stepping out into unknown territories.

The opening line of the song takes a nostalgic look at staying in a monotonous but comfortable place. The character, surrounded by idyllic summer imagery such as sweet lemonade, admits to feeling guilty for wanting things to be different. This self-reflection paves way for a chorus where they decide to ‘pack my beliefs and move to another world’. It shows that leaving behind what we are used to for an unfamiliar life is transformative.

NELDA captures the paradox between finding solace in the commotion of London -a city full of hustle- and being weighed down by obligations back at home. The lines “Everything is scary, everything is scary / But I’m bold” represent fearlessness amidst fear and this defines the journey towards self-discovery and independence.

By repeating “I’m bold” at the close of the poem, courage comes through as an important theme, suggesting that confronting fear is intrinsic to development. The message in the lyrics is that embarking on a new life can be intimidating, but it’s necessary if one is to find their way and attain individual contentment.

“Everything is Scary” generally is a beautiful self-aware song which will appeal to many who have experienced insecurity of the start. This track by NELDA is an anthem for embracing change because of its lyrical honesty and emotional depth.