Dive Into the Emotional Meaning Behind A Star Is Born's "Shallow"

If you haven't heard already, the fourth iteration of A Star Is Born is receiving a flurry of critical acclaim. There are a million reasons why you should watch the film, and one of the biggest ones is its amazing music. Featuring vocals from Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, the entire soundtrack, an eclectic, heartfelt mix of Americana, EDM, and pop, definitely deserves a listen (or 20). Still, one song stands out in particular thanks to the magic of top-notch music producers and movie trailers. Yup, we're talking about "Shallow," the soulful collaboration that launched a thousand memes even before the movie hit theatres.

Once you watch the movie, the emotional significance of the ballad becomes crystal clear. "Shallow" emerges as the anthem for the budding relationship between Ally (Gaga), a struggling, undiscovered musician, and Jack (Cooper), her seasoned mentor and significant other. In a poignant scene, Ally develops the bare bones of the song in an empty parking lot as she gets to know Jack, who later convinces her to sing it live in concert. Here, we'll get off the deep end and dive into the meaning behind the song's most significant lyrics.

• Tell me somethin' girl / Are you happy in this modern world? / Or do you need more / Is there somethin' else you're searchin' for? — At his concert, Jack begins the song with these opening words. They're undoubtedly a response to the lyrics that Ally ad libbed about him on their first date — more on that later. The lines work on multiple levels. On one hand, they refer to Ally balancing her waitressing job and her music gigs while longing for her big break. In the context of their relationship, Jack, through the lyrics, asks if she's happy alone or if she's searching for more in terms of love.
• I'm fallin' / In all the good times / I find myself longin' for change / And in the bad times I fear myself — The fall refers to Jack's struggle with alcoholism, his desire for something beyond fame, and his fear that he'll hurt people and himself when he's drunk. It can also allude to how he's developing feelings, or "fallin'," for Ally.
• Tell me something boy / Aren't you tired tryin' to fill that void?
  / Or do you need more / Ain't it hard keepin' it so hardcore?— In the movie, Ally punches someone at a bar after seeing them harass Jack. The couple goes to a grocery store to get ice for her fingers, and they share a vulnerable moment together in the parking lot. On the spot, the budding chanteuse comes up with these lyrics. The lines again reference Jack's struggle with drinking and fame. Ally's asking him if he uses these things to make up for something missing from his life. Like, you know, love.
• I'm off the deep end / Watch as I dive in / I'll never meet the ground / Crash through the surface / Where they can't hurt us / We're far from the shallow now — There's no forgetting the chorus to this song. Ally first shares it with Jack during the aforementioned date, bringing voice to her longing to make a big leap in her career. As their relationship blossoms, the lyrics pick up another meaning, alluding to the all-or-nothing risks that they'll take for each other as they fall in love.

Beyond its gut-wrenching role in the movie, the ballad is a pop gem that's bound to resonate with anyone who's ever had a dream or fallen in love. Plus, there's no denying that Cooper's gritty voice and Gaga's powerhouse chops are flawless. We'll be listening to "Shallow" for years to come, so we might as well know all of the lyrics now. Here they are in their full glory ahead.

Tell me somethin' girl
Are you happy in this modern world?
Or do you need more
Is there somethin' else you're searchin' for?

I'm fallin'
In all the good times
I find myself longin' for change
And in the bad times I fear myself

Tell me something boy
Aren't you tired tryin' to fill that void?
Or do you need more
Ain't it hard keepin' it so hardcore?

I'm falling
In all the good times
I find myself longing for change
And in the bad times I fear myself

I'm off the deep end
Watch as I dive in
I'll never meet the ground
Crash through the surface
Where they can't hurt us
We're far from the shallow now

In the sha-ha-sha-ha-low
In the sha-ha-sha-la-la-la-low
In the sha-ha-sha-ha-ha-low
We're far from the shallow now

Ooooo aahaaa ooou
Ooo ouo oooo haaaa

I'm off the deep end
Watch as I dive in
I'll never meet the ground
Crash through the surface
Where they can't hurt us
We're far from the shallow now

In the sha-ha-sha-ha-low
In the sha-ha-sha-la-la-la-low
In the sha-ha-sha-ha-ha-low
We're far from the shallow now