Singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus conveys a sense of hopeful despair for a deep love that transcends mere desire in "Ankles," the ethereal lead single from her forthcoming fourth album, ‘Forever Is a Feeling.’
Desire is straightforward. It’s simple to feel, express, and desire. Love, however, is unpredictable. It calls for attention and active engagement—both of which can be challenging to execute with the true intent needed to give it meaning. Achieving love to its fullest extent requires a significant level of vulnerability, which can be frightening. While it’s easy to yearn for love, crave intimacy, and desire to be open with a partner, the fear associated with pursuing a love that demands so much can easily create a barrier between longing and action. This tension is what Lucy Dacus explores in “Ankles.”
In anticipation of her fourth solo studio album, Forever Is a Feeling (set for release on March 28th via Geffen Records), Lucy Dacus has unveiled “Ankles,” a beautifully crafted song that conveys a primal yearning for a deeper intimacy that goes beyond the fleeting fantasies generated by desire.
The track shines instrumentally in a cinematic manner—the carefully crafted orchestration aligns perfectly with the rhythm and evolution of the lyrics. With the addition of violin and cello, along with drums, bass, and both acoustic and electric guitar, the song is given a unique space to expand and evolve.
This also allows Dacus' subtly powerful vocals to emerge and fill the atmosphere. Her voice maintains a soft quality due to its smooth timbre, which could easily be lost in overproduction or overpowering instrumentation. However, in "Ankles," her vocal tone is neither overly emphasized nor diminished. Instead, the environment provides her the opportunity to fully express and convey the yearning inherent in the lyrics.
Lyrically, the song is strikingly narrative, providing just enough detail to enhance its relatability. Every line is purposeful and clearly communicates Dacus' vision of romance. From the outset, however, she establishes the stakes of her desires, hinting throughout that she cannot attain what she longs for. The song reflects on what might exist beyond desire yet is ultimately constrained by the fear of genuinely pursuing what would fulfill those desires.
What if we don’t touch?
What if we only talk
About what we want
and cannot have?
And I’ll throw a fit
If it’s all I can do
If it’s the thought that counts
Let’s think it through
Lucy Dacus © Shervin Lainez
Despite this tension, Dacus candidly expresses her deepest wishes and openly yearns for uncomplicated intimacy through lyrics that vividly depict familiar and comforting scenes of domesticity that many can relate to.
I want you to show me what you mean
Then help me with the
crossword in the mornings
You are gonna make mе tea
Gonna ask me how did I sleep
The song fundamentally explores the conflict between desire and love. This internal struggle is woven into the very fabric of the song, with verses seemingly opposing love while the chorus endorses it. The lyrics exhibit a continual push and pull, as illustrated by the second verse stating, “How lucky are we to have so much to lose?” which highlights the fear of vulnerability that prevents Dacus from chasing the tender visions of love she describes in the following chorus.
Overall, “Ankles” serves as a tribute to the hopelessly hopeful, revealing a deep understanding upon close examination of its many elements. At its core, the track beautifully captures the internal struggle surrounding one of music’s most cherished themes: love. While there are countless songs dedicated to love and desire, “Ankles” stands out with its distinct honesty.
Whatever sets it apart, “Ankles” undoubtedly affirms Lucy Dacus as one of the most authentic and introspective songwriters and musicians in today’s music industry. It also signals that Forever Is a Feeling, scheduled for release on March 28th, promises to be another remarkable album from the singer-songwriter.
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Singer/songwriter Lucy Dacus conveys a sense of hopeless hope for a deep love that transcends mere desire in “Ankles,” the ethereal lead single from her forthcoming fourth album, ‘Forever Is a Feeling.’