Laufey Snow White Meaning and Review

“Snow White” by Laufey

“Snow White” stands as one of Laufey’s most emotionally raw pieces on A Matter of Time. The track draws listeners into a world of vulnerability and self-reflection. It opens with a tender acoustic guitar, its unhurried pace setting a delicate, melancholic mood. As the song progresses, swells of strings and traditional instrumentation join in, creating a layered and cinematic atmosphere. Laufey’s use of falsetto and sustained notes feels almost suspended in air, carrying both fragility and quiet strength. The arrangement is understated yet powerful, allowing the emotional weight of the lyrics to take center stage.

Themes and Lyrical Content

Lyrically, “Snow White” is a deeply personal confrontation with insecurity and societal beauty standards. In the opening verse, Laufey lays bare her struggles with self-worth, lamenting that “a woman’s best currency’s her body, not her brain,” a line that sharply critiques the reductive ways society values women. The chorus is hauntingly honest, portraying a world where mirrors lie and beauty ideals, particularly thinness, are relentless and unattainable. Laufey’s writing here is direct yet poetic, never shying away from uncomfortable truths.

The “Snow White” Figure

The second verse introduces the “Snow White” figure, an almost mythical embodiment of perfection who seems to effortlessly achieve everything Laufey desires. By contrasting herself with this idealized other, Laufey captures the exhausting and corrosive nature of comparison. It is not just about wanting to be someone else, it is about feeling fundamentally inadequate in the shadow of what society tells us is the gold standard. The repeated refrain “I’ll never have enough of it” hits like a resigned exhale, a cyclical reminder of the endless chase for approval.

Musical Progression

Musically, the song’s progression mirrors its thematic arc. The initial restraint builds gradually, mirroring the rising tide of emotions Laufey describes. The lush strings add a timeless quality, almost like a film score underscoring a bittersweet realization. Laufey’s voice remains the emotional anchor throughout, its clear and controlled delivery making the pain feel even more intimate. The production never overshadows her. Instead, it feels like a quiet companion to her storytelling.

Snow White Review 

Ultimately, “Snow White” is a highlight of A Matter of Time for its unflinching honesty and graceful execution. Laufey crafts a song that is both specific to her personal insecurities and universal in its themes, resonating with anyone who has ever felt less than in a world obsessed with appearances. It is a testament to her ability to blend lyrical vulnerability with sophisticated musicality, making the track not just a personal confession but also a poignant social commentary.

Listen To Laufey Snow White

Laufey Snow White Lyrics Meaning Explained 

The meaning of Snow White by Laufey is a vulnerable exploration of self-image, comparison, and the pressures of societal beauty standards. Through candid lyrics and emotive delivery, Laufey opens a window into the inner conflict of feeling inadequate when measured against ideals that often favor physical appearance over personal qualities or achievements. The song portrays a cycle of self-criticism, where the mirror becomes an unreliable narrator and the mind reinforces distorted perceptions. By introducing the symbolic “Snow White” figure, Laufey personifies the cultural archetype of perfection, highlighting how constant comparison can lead to feelings of envy, resignation, and emotional exhaustion. Ultimately, the track serves as both a personal confession and a broader commentary on the unrealistic expectations placed on women in today’s world.

Verse 1 Analysis

“Snow White” opens with the reflective line "Can't help but notice all of the ways" which immediately places the listener inside Laufey’s self-critical mindset. She follows with "In which I failed myself, I failed the world all the same", expressing the dual weight of personal disappointment and societal pressure. The confession "I don't think I'm pretty, it's not up for debate" illustrates how fixed her insecurities feel, while "A woman's best currency's her body, not her brain" offers a pointed critique of a culture that often prizes physical appearance over intellect or ability.

First Chorus Analysis

The chorus begins with "They try to tell me, tell me I'm wrong", acknowledging the reassurances she hears from others, yet these words hold little power against her inner dialogue. In "But mirrors tell lies to me, my mind just plays along", Laufey captures the painful cycle of distorted self-perception where even reality is filtered through an unkind mental lens. The line "The world is a sick place, at least for a girl" is a blunt condemnation of societal pressures on women, followed by "The people want beauty, skinny always wins" which speaks directly to the dominance of thinness in beauty ideals. The admissions "And I don't have enough of it" and "I'll never have enough of it" underscore the hopelessness she feels in trying to meet these impossible standards.

Verse 2 Analysis

In the second verse, Laufey turns to comparison with the line "Sometimes I see her, she looks like Snow White". The “Snow White” figure becomes a symbol of unattainable beauty, someone who embodies traditional ideals. She continues with "She's everything I am, but my wrongs are turned to rights", suggesting that even shared traits are perceived as more desirable on this other person. This idealization deepens in "Her body is smaller, skin is so fair", a reference to qualities upheld by Eurocentric beauty standards, and "She's achieved everything I've dreamed of", implying that her perceived perfection has granted her success. The fixation reaches a peak with "And it's all that I can think of", revealing how comparison can consume her thoughts.

Second Chorus Analysis

The return of the chorus reinforces the cyclical nature of these insecurities. The repetition of "But mirrors tell lies to me, my mind just plays along" mirrors the persistence of distorted self-image, while the closing lines again declare "And I don't have enough of it, I'll never have enough of it". This repetition mirrors the way such feelings often loop endlessly, making them difficult to escape.

Snow White Meaning

Through these lyrics, “Snow White” captures the deeply personal yet widely relatable experience of struggling with self-worth under the weight of societal beauty standards. Each reference to appearance, comparison, and unattainability forms part of a narrative that moves from self-criticism to envy, and ultimately to resignation. The recurring imagery and repeated lines serve not only as musical refrains but as reflections of the way these thoughts replay in the mind, reinforcing the very insecurities the song laments.

Laufey Snow White Lyrics 

[Verse 1]

Can't help but notice all of the ways

In which I failed myself, I failed the world all the same

I don't think I'm pretty, it's not up for debate

A woman's best currency's her body, not her brain

[Chorus]

They try to tell me, tell me I'm wrong

But mirrors tell lies to me, my mind just plays along

The world is a sick place, at least for a girl

The people want beauty, skinny always wins

And I don't have enough of it

I'll never have enough of it

[Verse 2]

Sometimes I see her, she looks like Snow White

She's everything I am, but my wrongs are turned to rights

Her body is smaller, skin is so fair

She's achieved everything I've dreamed of

And it's all that I can think of

[Chorus]

They try to tell me, tell me I'm wrong

But mirrors tell lies to me, my mind just plays along

The world is a sick place, at least for a girl

The people want beauty, skinny always wins

And I don't have enough of it

I'll never have enough of it