If you haven’t seen Beyoncé’s Lemonade yet, gosh, go see it now. This is a masterpiece. I think, though, that if you watched Beyoncé's incredible Grammy performance, that's all the convincing you need to watch it for the first time or watch it again (I know I will). After "Love Drought," Beyoncé sang "Sandcastles," a song about a relationship that's on the decline. But if you've seen Lemonade , you know this. (Look at it!)
For those of you who are relatively new to Bey's "Lemonade" lyrics, or are just looking for a little more explanation (or just want to read more about this amazing album - I think so), this record is considered is about Beyoncé and Jay Z's relationship, although the two have never confirmed it, especially since the visual album features personal videos of the couple, their family and their daughter Blue Ivy. The album ends on a positive note - apparently Jay and Bey are still together and have two new babies on the way, if it's about them at all - but much of it is about the more difficult parts of a relationship, including Very emotional "Sandcastle".
The "sand castle" metaphor is actually quite simple: Like a real sand castle, a relationship can be washed away, even if it has always seemed solid. Beyoncé sang:
The sand castle we built was washed away
I made you cry when I walked away
Even though I promised I wouldn't stay, baby
Not every promise is fulfilled this way
The lyrics not only say that one person in the relationship did something wrong, but that even if that person did something that would make the other person leave, that person did not keep their promise to end the relationship. Basically, sometimes, as you get deeper into a relationship, things that were once deal breakers no longer are.
Beyoncé also sang:
Your heart is broken 'cause I walked away
Show me your scars and I won't walk away
People who come from the perspective of this song say that even if their partner's behavior makes them want to leave, as long as they can empathize with their partner and understand what led to their decisions or their vulnerabilities, they are willing to stay and work things out.
Yes, "Sand Castle" uses a fairly simple metaphor, but its message is already widely understood and doesn't need to be elaborated on in any greater depth. Listeners can get whatever they need from it. It's powerful enough - especially with Beyoncé's passionate vocals at the back.
