Boygenius—the supergroup formed by indie icons Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus—released Cool About It as the fifth track on their 2023 album, The Record.
Known for their emotionally raw lyrics and harmonies, Boygenius has crafted a hauntingly introspective song that has resonated deeply with fans since its release on 31 March 2023.
The track captures a complex blend of longing, restraint, and unsaid words, wrapped in a semi-folk, country-tinged arrangement that highlights the trio’s ability to weave storytelling with stark emotional honesty
Setting the Stage: Boygenius’ 2023 Comeback with The Record
After the success of their self-titled 2018 EP, fans eagerly awaited Boygenius’ next move.
With The Record, they returned not just as a supergroup but as a more cohesive unit, with each member—Bridgers, Baker, and Dacus—bringing their unique narrative style while blending into something greater than the sum of its parts.
Cool About It is a standout track that reveals the band’s matured sound and collaborative depth.
The song fits seamlessly within the album’s themes, which delve into love, loss, and introspection, marking a period in their discography where Boygenius confronts complex emotions head-on.
The Visual Storytelling in Cool About It’s Music Video
Released on 20 September 2023, the Cool About It music video added a new layer to the song’s already poignant narrative.
Directed by visual artist Lauren Tsai, the video is hauntingly surreal, illustrating the themes of detachment and longing through the interaction between a dog and its toy—a metaphor for relationships that feel close yet emotionally distant.
The stitched, Tim Burton-esque style reinforces the song’s melancholic undertones, creating a visual atmosphere that mirrors the lyrics’ themes of suppressed emotions and restrained longing.
Tsai explained that collaborating with Boygenius was a “dream,” reflecting how the band’s work has impacted her personally.
Lyrical Breakdown: What Cool About It Really Means
Cool About It is split into three verses, each sung by a different band member, creating a tapestry of emotions that feels both intimate and relatable.
Each verse provides a distinct perspective on holding back emotions, masking pain, and trying to “play it cool” in relationships that have clearly left an impact.
Here’s a deeper look at how each member contributes to the song’s narrative:
Julien Baker opens the song with a verse laden with imagery of casual interactions—“Met you at the dive bar to go shoot some pool.”
There’s a familiarity in these lyrics, a scene many listeners can picture, yet Baker’s line “I’m trying to be cool about it” reveals an internal struggle.
Beneath the lighthearted setting is a tension that’s all too familiar: the need to seem unbothered while feeling anything but.
Lucy Dacus steps in with the second verse, where she sings about “coming prepared for absolution” yet feeling slighted when her counterpart has “no regrets.”
Dacus’ verse speaks to the frustration of unresolved feelings, where forgiveness is desired but never requested, and the sting of unmet expectations lingers.
Her lyrics highlight that “trying to forget about it” is easier said than done when you’re still waiting for closure that may never come.
Phoebe Bridgers closes with a verse that has become one of the most talked-about sections of the song.
She confesses, “Once, I took your medication to know what it’s like,” a line that resonates with anyone who’s gone to drastic measures to understand a loved one’s experience.
Bridgers’ verse captures the delicate balance of empathy and self-destructive curiosity, adding a layer of dark humour as she reflects on her own impulsiveness.
It’s a reminder of the lengths we sometimes go to connect with those who feel distant, even if it means hurting ourselves in the process.
The Resonant Chorus: Why We Can’t Help but Relate to Cool About It
The chorus of Cool About It is where the song’s core message comes alive.
The lyrics “Feelin’ like an absolute fool about it” and “Wishin’ you were kind enough to be cruel about it” reflect a universal experience: trying to play it cool while struggling internally.
It’s about the quiet moments where we wrestle with ourselves, wishing we could be more indifferent but knowing that’s not truly possible.
This bittersweet acceptance is what gives Cool About It its emotional punch, making it resonate with listeners who understand the complexity of suppressed feelings.
Boygenius doesn’t offer easy solutions here. Instead, they embrace the struggle, illustrating that pretending to be “cool about it” is often a mask, concealing emotions that are too difficult to face directly.
It’s this honesty that makes the song feel so raw and relatable.
Exploring the Themes of Cool About It: Why the Song Cuts So Deep
Cool About It stands out for its exploration of internal conflict, an aspect that has made the song deeply relatable to fans.
Many listeners interpret the song as capturing the tension of unresolved relationships—whether it’s a friendship, a romantic relationship, or even a past connection that still haunts you.
The lyrics subtly touch on addiction, mental health struggles, and the difficulty of truly letting go, allowing listeners to find their own meaning in the song.
For more insight on Boygenius’ lyricism, including themes of regret and longing in tracks like Not Strong Enough.
Why Cool About It Has Become an Indie Anthem for Masked Emotions
The beauty of Cool About It lies in its universality. By speaking about specific experiences with a tone of restrained longing, Boygenius allows listeners to project their own emotions onto the song.
Whether you’ve struggled with pretending everything is fine or have felt the weight of unsaid words, the song invites you to sit with those feelings without judgement.
In a world where people are often told to “move on” or “let it go,” Cool About It validates the complexity of unresolved emotions.
It’s okay to not have closure, to still care even when you don’t want to.
And in a time when vulnerability is often seen as a weakness, Boygenius reminds us that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is admit that you’re not “cool about it” after all.
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Boygenius Cool About It Lyrics
Verse 1: Baker
Met you at the dive bar to go shoot some pool
And make fun of the cowboys with the neck tattoos
Ask you easy questions about work and school
Chorus: Baker
I’m trying to be cool about it
Feelin’ like an absolute fool about it
Wishin’ you were kind enough to be cruel about it
Tellin’ myself I can always do without it
Knowing that it probably isn’t true
Verse 2: Dacus, All
I came prepared for absolution, if you’d only ask
So I take some offense when you say, “No regrets”
I remember it’s impossible to pass your test
Chorus: All, Dacus
But I’m trying to forget about it
Feelin’ like I’m breaking a sweat about it
Wishin’ you would kindly get out of my head about it
Tеllin’ myself, one day, I’ll forget about it
Knowing that it probably isn’t truе
Verse 3: Bridgers, All
Once, I took your medication to know what it’s like
And now I have to act like I can’t read your mind
I ask you how you’re doing and I let you lie
Chorus: All
But we don’t have to talk about it
I can walk you home and practice method acting
I’ll pretend bein’ with you doesn’t feel like drowning
Tellin’ you it’s nice to see how good you’re doing
Even though we know it isn’t true
