What HAIM's The Steps Lyrics Really Mean

The title of the song "The Steps" is also a lyric that repeats several times throughout the piece of music, and the listener comes to understand that the vocalist is expressing progress she is making in her life (via Song Meanings and Facts). She sings about "making money for myself" and "taking the steps" to improve her own situation and work toward her dreams. 

And yet, while the listener understands the singer is proud of the ways in which she is moving forward, it sounds as though there is a person, perhaps a romantic partner, who is trying to hold her back in some way or simply isn't understanding her purpose or drive behind these "steps" she is taking. So the progress in her own life is creating strife in the relationship with this person. 

This is a struggle many of us can relate to, and perhaps that's why it was so therapeutic for the sisters to scream, "You don't understand me!" It's very theraputic for listeners to belt out in their car, too!