"Ms. Protagonist" is a song by J. Maya that tells the story of a young girl who grows up and loses touch with herself and her dreams. The lyrics portray the girl's journey from childhood to adulthood and the struggles she faces along the way. The song starts by describing the girl's love for storytelling and how she finds solace and inspiration in the words she hears during storytime. However, as she grows older, she begins to leave her stories and dreams unsaid, losing her creative voice. The lyrics also touch upon the girl's nostalgia for her youthful innocence and carefree spirit. She longs for the simplicity of her childhood, where skinned knees and climbing trees were a part of her everyday life. The phrase "All the dreams that I used to believe" suggests that she has lost her sense of wonder and optimism. As the song progresses, it reveals that the girl is afraid of growing older and losing her youth. She reflects on the sound of bliss before she knew the harsh realities of life. The line "She came of age, ran out of pages, greater expectations" indicates that she feels pressure to conform to societal expectations as she enters adulthood. The chorus poses the question "Where are you, Ms. Protagonist?" as a call to the girl to rediscover her true self. The song acknowledges that she has lost her way and urges her to find her way back home to herself. In the bridge, the lyrics suggest that the girl may have chosen to guard her heart and not let anyone truly get to know her. This might be because she feels that her emotions and dreams are too big to be contained within someone else's words or understanding. The song concludes with the plea for the protagonist to return to herself, to remember who she once was and embrace her dreams once again. It urges her to come back home and not let herself be lost any longer. Overall, "Ms. Protagonist" tells a story of a girl's journey through life, her struggles with growing up, losing touch with her dreams, and ultimately finding her way back to herself. The song encourages self-reflection, embracing one's true self, and not being afraid to pursue one's passions and dreams.
