"Question…?” from Midnights
At Swift Steps, we use lyrics and songs to reflect on our own experiences with addiction, mental health, and recovery—both mine and our members.
This week's song struck a chord with many of us, leading to some amazing discussions and insights. I want to assure you that I will never share what our members discuss because of our confidentiality promises.
However, I do gather my own thoughts before the meetings, and I’m excited to share them with you each week!
“I want to assure you that I will never share what our members discuss because of our confidentiality promises.“
This week’s song is "Question…?” from Midnights.
If you wanna take a listen:
"Question...?" captures exactly how ruminating thoughts can hold you hostage. The endless loops of asking yourself "questions" is so relatable to anyone who’s ever been stuck in their head, replaying every little moment like it’s a bad movie they can’t turn off. Questioning every decision, every move, every word. This song is a reminder that ruminating thoughts will keep you stuck if you let them, and the only way out is to stop giving them the power to keep running the show.
Intro
"I remember"
You have a memory, and suddenly, you’re trapped in its grip.
Verse 1
"Good girl, sad boy / Big city, wrong choices"
Ruminating thoughts fixate on right vs. wrong, good vs. bad.
"We had one thing going on / I swear that it was something"
We cling to small moments of significance, replaying them over and over. This tendency can keep us tied to unhealthy relationships or habits because we romanticize their importance, even when they were destructive.
“'Cause I don't remember who I was before you"
Ruminating thoughts rob us of self-identity, focusing on how much we’ve lost or how far we’ve strayed since we met said person.
"Painted all my nights / A color I've searched for since"
The mind latches onto moments of intensity, whether from substances, relationships, or emotional highs.
“Ruminating thoughts rob us of self-identity, focusing on how much we’ve lost or how far we’ve strayed since we met said person. ”
Pre-Chorus
"But one thing after another / Lost in situations, circumstances"
Ruminating thoughts thrive on compiling every bad situation into one overwhelming narrative. This mental spiral keeps us focused on what went wrong, rather than how to move forward.
“The need for clarity becomes obsessive. ”
"Miscommunications and I / Have to say / By the way / I just may like some explanations"
The need for clarity becomes obsessive. The mind demands answers, replaying conversations and actions, searching for meaning that may never come.
Chorus
"Can I ask you a question? / Did you ever have someone kiss you in a crowded room / And every single one of your friends was making fun of you / But fifteen seconds later they were clapping too?"
Ruminating thoughts are often tied to moments of being embarrassed or even liking all the validation and shame we receive. The shame and fleeting approval keeps us stuck in the discomfort of those memories.
"Then what did you do?"
A classic example of the “what-if” loop.
"Did you leave her house in the middle of the night? / Did you wish you'd put up more of a fight / When she said it was too much?"
These lines highlight how ruminating thoughts trap us in regret. They create a narrative of failure, focusing on missed opportunities to do things “better” or “right,” which only deepens the shame spiral.
"Do you wish you could still touch ...her?"
The longing for something lost—whether a person, a feeling, or a past version of ourselves—keeps us emotionally hostage, unable to move on.
Verse 2
"Half-moon eyes, bad surprise / Did you realize, out of time / She was on your mind"
Intrusive thoughts often come unexpectedly, throwing us off balance. The realization that something is still occupying mental space can feel like being ambushed by your own mind in really inconvenient or inopportune moments.
"With some dickhead guy / That you saw that night / But you were on something"
“Addiction and recovery are often clouded by cycles of behavior we don’t fully understand at the time. Ruminating thoughts fixate on the confusion, creating a feeling of helplessness in the gray areas.”
Ruminating thoughts about what happened while under the influence can make recovery feel even heavier, as the mind replays distorted memories and tries to piece together the truth.
"It was one drink after another / Caught in politics and gender roles / And you're not sure and I don't know"
Addiction and recovery are often clouded by cycles of behavior we don’t fully understand at the time. Ruminating thoughts fixate on the confusion, creating a feeling of helplessness in the gray areas.
Bridge
"Does it feel like everything's just like second-best after that / Meteor strike?"
The metaphor of the “meteor strike” captures how ruminating thoughts keep us focused on the impact of something that’s already happened. Recovery feels like living in the shadow of past mistakes or highs, struggling to rebuild a life that feels “enough.”
"And what's that, that I heard, that you're still with her / That's nice, I'm sure that's what's suitable / And right"
Comparison feeds ruminating thoughts, keeping us focused on others’ lives instead of our own. The sarcasm here shows how bitterness can creep in, fueling resentment rather than acceptance.
"But tonight..."
The quiet of night is often when ruminating thoughts are at their worst. The mind traps us in loops, replaying scenarios endlessly and preventing peace.
Conclusion
"Question...?" portrays how ruminating thoughts can hold us hostage, paralyzing us with regret, shame, and longing. These thoughts:
Amplify Regret
Distort Reality
Cripple Progress
Feed Comparison
“Ruminating thoughts in addiction and recovery are like emotional quicksand—they pull you deeper into shame and self-doubt the longer you let them run wild. ”
Ruminating thoughts in addiction and recovery are like emotional quicksand—they pull you deeper into shame and self-doubt the longer you let them run wild. "Question...?" nails the feeling of being trapped in your own head, where clarity is just out of reach and peace feels impossible to grab onto. It’s a mental prison, and breaking out of those loops isn’t easy, but it’s one of the most freeing things you can do for yourself in recovery. The song reminds us that we have to stop replaying the past to make space for something better. Letting go of these loops is one of the hardest—but most freeing—steps in recovery.
Feeling connected to this reflection? Join us for our next Swift Steps meeting where we explore the emotional challenges of growth, love, and recovery. Our community is here to support you.
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