Matilda
There’s something about Harry Styles’ song Matilda that feels like a gentle hug for the soul. It’s one of those songs that you can’t just listen to passively; it demands your attention, and when you really listen, it speaks to you. The lyrics are raw, honest, and deeply personal, and there’s one part that always hits me in the gut:
Matilda, you talk of the pain like it’s all alright. But I know that you feel like a piece of you’s dead inside. You showed me a power that is strong enough to bring sun to the darkest days.
These words are so simple, yet they capture a truth we all know too well — the struggle of carrying pain while still trying to show the world that we’re okay. It’s the act of pretending everything is fine when inside, you’re barely holding it together. It’s about the invisible weight that no one sees, the quiet parts of us that feel lost or empty, even when we smile through it all.
We’ve all been there at some point — putting on a brave face and pretending we’re alright when, deep down, we’re anything but. And Harry captures this feeling perfectly with the line
But I know that you feel like a piece of you’s dead inside.
It’s that acknowledgment of the pain we carry, often silently. We talk about our struggles, but in our efforts to protect others or keep things together, we sometimes bury a piece of ourselves.
But here’s the thing: You are not defined by the pain you carry. The fact that we experience hardship doesn’t mean we lose who we are. Pain might make us feel broken at times, but it also has the power to show us how strong we really are. This is what Harry is saying — there’s strength in the struggle.
Get Persephone’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
The next part of the lyric hits a note of hope that’s so desperately needed. Harry sings,
You showed me a power that is strong enough to bring sun to the darkest days.
This part reminds me that even when we feel like we’re in the deepest of pits, we still have the ability to rise. Sometimes, the strength we need to get through hard times comes from within us, even when we feel completely empty.
It’s like those days when everything feels impossible, but somehow, we find the energy to push through. That strength, that light, is in us even when we don’t see it. And just like the sun breaking through the clouds after a storm, sometimes the smallest glimmer of hope is all we need to make it through.
For me, this connects deeply with the idea that I’m a “walking sunshine.” There’s something about embodying that energy — the way a positive attitude can help light the way even when everything around you feels heavy. It’s not about ignoring the hard parts, but rather about finding that inner spark to rise above them. Just like the sun, even on the cloudiest days, you can find that light within yourself to keep going.
It’s a reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is an untapped power within us that can turn things around. The fact that Matilda, or anyone who’s feeling lost, has the ability to “bring sun to the darkest days” is a beautiful reminder that healing isn’t linear. It’s messy, it’s complicated, but it’s possible. And sometimes, the strongest people are the ones who’ve endured the most, even if they never show it.
We don’t have to pretend to be okay. It’s okay to admit that we’re not fine, to face our emotions head-on, and to allow ourselves to feel. Acknowledging the pain is the first step in letting go of it, and that’s where the strength lies. It’s not about being perfect — it’s about giving yourself grace, about knowing that you are allowed to heal at your own pace.
In the end, Matilda is more than just a song — it’s a message. A message that even when we feel like pieces of us are dead inside, we still have the strength to rise. The power to bring light to our darkest days is in us all, even if we can’t always see it.
So next time you listen to Matilda, let those lyrics serve as a reminder that healing is possible, even when it feels impossible. You’re not alone in this — and it’s okay to not be okay sometimes. And for me, the reminder that I’m a walking sunshine means that no matter what I face, I can carry light with me through the dark. You’re stronger than you know, and brighter days are always ahead.
