Released: 2024
Jorja Smith’s ‘High’ is about self-discovery, growth, and finding inner strength. The song captures the struggles of personal evolution and the importance of loving oneself. It’s a journey of highs and lows, realizing that self-love is crucial.
The song opens with Smith saying she took her time to reach out. ‘I took my time / Called up to say / Out of the silence / Don’t think I ran away.’ She assures the person she’s addressing that she didn’t disappear out of neglect.
She asks about their day and what’s changed. ‘How has your day been? / Tell me what’s changed? / Are you still searching? / I think I’m doing the same thing.’ This suggests both of them are on a similar path of searching and self-discovery.
Smith acknowledges the passage of time and her absence. ‘It’s been so long / I wasn’t there / Don’t want you to feel like I, I didn’t care.’ She explains that her absence wasn’t because she didn’t care but because she needed to find herself.
She highlights the difficulty of bringing someone along on this personal journey. ‘I went to find myself, I couldn’t take you there, no.’ This line underscores that some journeys are solitary, necessary for personal growth.
The recurring line ‘Cause where’d you run if you can’t?’ questions where one would go if they can’t run away from their problems. It’s about facing challenges head-on.
Smith expresses her desire to grow without stumbling. ‘I wanna grow but I don’t wanna trip.’ She wants progress without setbacks, showing the balance between ambition and caution.
The hook ‘Just know one thing / Is that you’re gonna always be high’ is reassuring. Despite the lows, she emphasizes that highs will come, suggesting resilience and hope.
Smith admits her lows and the absence of support. ‘I’ve had my lows / You weren’t always there for me / But time has shown / That I can love myself again.’ Despite the lack of support, she found self-love.
She realizes the need for friends but also stresses the importance of being her own friend. ‘I always need my friends / But I need to find one in myself.’ This is about finding inner strength and self-reliance.
The repetition of ‘Always be high’ at the end reinforces the theme of enduring positivity and resilience. Despite life’s challenges, the highs will always return.
