Music Review: Cavetown’s ‘Guilty’ Through a Sociological Lens

Abstract

As a moving piece with emotive lyrics and imaginative storytelling, “Guilty,” by indie/alternative singer-songwriter Cavetown (2021), paints an image of loyalty and pain through the metaphor of a dog's relationship with their owner, given the album name Man's Best Friend. Beyond the metaphor, the lyrics of this song have a multitude of different interpretations, and as a result, it resonates with many on various levels while remaining sociologically sound. There are layers to this song as it covers a range of themes involving mental health, fear of isolation, identity management, and humans’ need for connection in society.