It’s always easy to look back on memories and realize things after the fact. How useful would it be if we could know how everything was going to turn out, so we could act before it happens instead of after? Of course, that’s a double-edged sword of a question, since I can only imagine how stressful it would be knowing beforehand how everything was going to turn out. In the end, it’s really how we come to terms with these things happening in our life that defines our character. This is exactly what Asch-Rose is reflecting upon in her song, “DAISY,” which describes dealing with love which only flows in one direction and reflecting upon the effort she put into this person after realizing their true intentions.
The song begins by allowing the listener to become accustomed to its world for a few seconds before Asch-Rose begins singing. While simplistic, the instrumentation is relaxed and brings to mind vivid imagery of a field of flowers on a sunny day. Out of the gate, we are hit with a catchy melody with vocals which are coated in effects. Low in the mix when compared to the instruments, it can be difficult at times to understand what is being sung without going back and listening carefully. In this way, the lyrics are delivered in a relaxed tone which fills the song with a laid-back sort of feeling.
Expressing her feelings for someone, she sings, “I made a daisy chain for you / Straight from my heart, it’s all for you / I wanna feel your loving.” While the phrase daisy chain has multiple meanings, I believe she is singing of the sort you’d make by stringing daisies together into a sort of jewelry. This act of making a gift for someone you wish liked you back is heightened by the symbolic meaning of the daisy flower, which is that of innocence and purity. So, while she is longing for this person who is either missing her signals or ignoring them, “Can’t you see that I’m longing for you?” she is giving up pieces of her innocence in order to get their attention.
The chorus switches up the instrumentation slightly, giving the song a fuller sound, while Asch-Rose adds harmonies to her lead vocal. By simply repeating the word, “daisy,” a couple times with a catchy melody, she draws emphasis towards what is the main symbol of the song. In the second verse of the song, we are let in on some more details regarding the relationship between Asch-Rose and whomever she is longing for. Self-reflecting, she sings, “Drink from the cup that you filled for me / Didn’t think twice that you never lied to me.” While, like most songs, it’s difficult to come to a certain conclusion with what little information we are presented, I believe this verse suggests that the person has been upfront about their feelings and Asch-Rose refused to believe them. By drinking from the cup which this person filled for her, she was fully embracing their attention and assumed affection. Once realizing the love was only flowing in one direction, she feels like they will go on with their life as she sits around thinking about them, “But you’ll reap the benefits.”
After another chorus, we are treated to a bridge which completely switches up the instrumentation of the song. Almost in harmony with the guitars, a ghostly melody sings in the background of the rest of the instruments. With some added effects, the sound builds up as a guitar solo smoothly sails over the wonderfully crafted wall of sound. Once the section is over, the song simplifies and a repeat of some previous lyrics are sung with a slight modification, “I made a daisy chain for you / Didn’t think twice that I never lied to you.” Again, she is reminiscing about her relationship with this person which didn’t end up being what she believed it was. Without even realizing, she was completely open with this person. The song ends on a repeat of the chorus with a gradually building and then quieting instrumentation.
