CMAT Iceberg Meaning and Review
- Burner Records
- Aug 31
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 6

CMAT’s Iceberg is a striking example of her ability to blend vulnerability and dark humor within a haunting musical landscape. The track opens with a slow, menacing soundscape, anchored by an acoustic guitar that carries a morose, almost sullen tone. This instrumental choice immediately sets the mood, emphasizing a sense of emotional weight while allowing CMAT’s vocals to stand out with stark intimacy. The slow pacing and deliberate tension in the arrangement make every lyric feel more impactful, drawing the listener into the complex dynamics of the story she is telling.
A Personal and Relatable Story
Lyrically, Iceberg is both personal and relatable, revolving around CMAT’s friendship with Bella, her best friend since adolescence. CMAT has described the song as capturing the moment she noticed Bella struggling under the pressures of her ambition, despite outward success. Lines like "Where did you go, crazy girl boss?" highlight this intimate observation, blending concern with affectionate teasing. The song manages to capture the nuance of female friendship, the ability to see through facades, empathize deeply, and still find humor in the struggles of someone you love.
Vivid and Evocative Lyrics
The verses are filled with relatable imagery and nostalgic references. The opening verse paints a scene of youthful frivolity "Cheap Cabernet kissing your teeth like a bad lip stain / Like the freebie shit inside teen girl magazines" contrasted with the present reality of Bella’s stress and hidden pain. CMAT’s attention to detail in portraying small, specific moments makes the song feel both cinematic and grounded, enhancing the emotional resonance for listeners who have experienced similar tensions between ambition and personal wellbeing.
Emotional Core in Chorus and Post-Chorus
The chorus and post-chorus reinforce the song’s emotional core with repetition and a sense of immediacy. Phrases like "I see it hurts / Icy iceberg" are simultaneously tender and metaphorical, framing Bella’s struggles as an iceberg, partially hidden yet impossible to ignore. The post-chorus offers a sense of support and protection, with CMAT positioning herself as a steadfast friend "I’m built like a boat / I’ll fuck that shit up / I see you hurt." This combination of lyrical tenderness and blunt humor is characteristic of CMAT’s style and underscores the song’s emotional duality.
A Standout Track
Iceberg is a standout track on Euro Country for its emotional honesty, evocative lyricism, and haunting instrumentation. CMAT crafts a song that balances melancholy with humor, nostalgia with present-day observation, and personal vulnerability with storytelling prowess. It is both a tribute to friendship and a meditation on the pressures of adult life, delivered with her signature wit and sensitivity. By the time the outro fades with the soft "la, la, la"s, listeners are left with a lingering sense of empathy and connection, making Iceberg a deeply resonant piece of modern pop storytelling.
Listen To CMAT Iceberg
CMAT Iceberg Lyrics Meaning Explained
The meaning of Iceberg by CMAT is a reflection on friendship, emotional vulnerability, and the hidden pressures of adult life. The song explores the delicate balance between ambition and personal wellbeing through the lens of CMAT’s long-term friendship with her best friend Bella. Using vivid metaphors and nostalgic imagery, CMAT portrays the ways in which her friend’s outward success masks inner struggles and emotional exhaustion. The recurring iceberg metaphor emphasizes that much of Bella’s pain is hidden beneath the surface, yet CMAT’s attentive observation and empathetic voice ensure that these feelings are acknowledged and supported. At its core, the song is both a tender tribute to friendship and an exploration of the emotional weight that life’s responsibilities can impose.
Verse 1: Nostalgic Beginnings
Iceberg opens with a vivid, nostalgic reflection on adolescence. The line “Cheap Cabernet kissing your teeth like a bad lip stain” evokes a moment of casual indulgence or a messy social experience, subtly hinting at hidden imperfections beneath outward appearances. This is reinforced by “Like the freebie shit inside teen girl magazines,” which references small, superficial pleasures from youth, emphasizing fleeting enjoyment in contrast to adult pressures. CMAT continues this reflection with “Remember sending our pictures in hoping they'd print them out?” which recalls playful efforts for recognition during adolescence. The verse concludes with “They wouldn't show our faces, much like you right now,” connecting Bella’s current emotional withdrawal to the past, reinforcing the theme of hidden struggles.
Pre-Chorus 1: Concern and Affection
The pre-chorus highlights CMAT’s concern and affectionate teasing for her friend. “Where'd you go, crazy girl boss?” references Bella’s ambition and her formerly vibrant personality, while simultaneously expressing worry about her seeming emotional distance. “Where'd you go, are you still lost?” emphasizes this concern, showing that CMAT is aware of Bella’s inner struggle even as she navigates outward success.
Chorus 1: Hidden Pain
The chorus reinforces the central metaphor of the iceberg, portraying hidden pain beneath a surface of social niceties. “Nice words, good times / Iceberg tonight” juxtaposes positivity with emotional weight, while “I see it hurts / Icy iceberg” acknowledges Bella’s suffering, highlighting both visibility and coldness in her struggle. Lines such as “You cry / I've heard / Through walls” emphasize CMAT’s deep awareness and empathy, showing that the emotional pain is not unnoticed. Repetition of “Iceberg / I see it hurts / Icy iceberg” strengthens the metaphor of hidden emotional trauma, underscoring concern and understanding.
Verse 2: Titanic Metaphor
Verse two deepens the metaphor with references to Titanic. “I really think Rose could've made room on that floating door” draws a parallel between Bella’s emotional situation and Jack’s death, suggesting that she feels unsupported or overwhelmed. “You just agree, I swear that you wouldn't have before” contrasts Bella’s current passivity with her previously assertive personality, while “You used to wanna pick fights and scream about any ol' thing” reflects on her former fiery character. “Now you're drowning just like Jack did” continues the Titanic metaphor, illustrating Bella’s emotional exhaustion and vulnerability.
Pre-Chorus 2: Shared Struggles
The second pre-chorus, “Where'd you go, is it too much / Oh the world has us both crushed,” extends this theme, showing mutual recognition of life’s pressures and shared emotional weight.
Chorus 2 and Post-Chorus: Support and Reassurance
The chorus is repeated, reinforcing the iceberg metaphor and CMAT’s empathetic observation of her friend’s hidden pain. The post-chorus offers reassurance and support: “Hey girl, it's fine / Just break, just cry / I'm here tonight” encourages vulnerability, while “Iceberg delight” introduces a playful tone, lightening the emotional weight. “I'm built like a boat / I'll fuck that shit up” emphasizes CMAT’s role as protector, reframing the Titanic imagery to suggest survival and support. The closing “I see you hurt / Icy Iceberg” reaffirms awareness and care.
Outro: Gentle Closure
The outro, with its simple “La, la, la, la,” provides a gentle, almost childlike closure, reflecting friendship, comfort, and shared memories amid heavy themes.
CMAT Iceberg Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Cheap Cabernet kissing your teeth like a bad lip stain
Like the freebie shit inside teen girl magazines
Remember sending our pictures in hoping they'd print them out?
They wouldn't show our faces, much like you right now
[Pre-Chorus]
Where'd you go, crazy girl boss?
Where'd you go, are you still lost?
[Chorus]
Nice words, good times
Iceberg tonight
I see it hurts
Icy iceberg
You cry
I've heard
Through walls
Iceberg
I see it hurts
Icy iceberg
[Verse 2]
I really think Rose could've made room on that floating door
You just agree, I swear that you wouldn't have before
You used to wanna pick fights and scream about any ol' thing
Now you're drowning just like Jack did
[Pre-Chorus]
Where'd you go, is it too much
Oh the world has us both crushed
[Chorus]
Nice words, good times
Iceberg tonight
I see it hurts
Icy iceberg
You cry
I've heard
Through walls
Iceberg
I see it hurts
Icy iceberg
[Post-Chorus]
Hey girl, it's fine
Just break, just cry
I'm here tonight
Iceberg delight
I'm built like a boat
I'll fuck that shit up
I see you hurt
Icy Iceberg
[Outro]
La, la, la, la




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