The Hunger Games movie series continues to expand with the fifth installment of the series ‘The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.’ This time, the rising star, Olivia Rodrigo will contribute her vocals to the soundtrack of the upcoming movie.
“Can’t Catch Me Now” is a song from the upcoming ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’ movie based on the novel by the same name by Suzanne Collins. The dystopian movie series has gained notoriety for its action-packed themes as well as coveted soundtracks. Artists such as Taylor Swift (“Safe and Sound” and “Eyes Open”), The Civil Wars (“Kingdom Come”), Imagine Dragons (“Who We Are”), Lorde (“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” and “Yellow Flicker Beat”), and The Weeknd (“Devil May Cry”) have contributed to the series soundtracks before.
‘The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’ is a prequel to The Hunger Games trilogy and is expected to hit the theatres on November 17, 2023.
Listen to “Can’t Catch Me Now” by Olivia Rodrigo
Olivia Rodrigo “Can’t Catch Me Now” Lyrics Meaning and Song Review
[Spoilers ahead]
Olivia Rodrigo paints a picture of the infamous Hunger Games ceremony on its 10th anniversary, 64 years before the tyrannical presidency of Coriolanus Snow. In fact, Snow is a mere mentor to the District 12 tribute at this year’s event, Lucy Gray. As both of them run the course of survival, they also fall for each other. But only one can be the songbird and the other crowns the snake.
In the first verse of the song, Olivia Rodrigo sings about ‘snow falling over the city,’ a metaphor for what’s to come. Coriolanus Snow, a mere participant of the game this year, goes on to become a tyrannical president of Panem later on. Despite the budding love between Snow and Lucy, Snow’s allegiance turns to the Capitol administration, and feeling betrayed by this, Lucy runs away from Snow.
Although Snow follows her trail and battles the traps set by her for him. Lucy, although avoiding Snow, keeps an eye out for him, to exact revenge whenever possible.
But I’m in the trees, I’m in the breeze
Lucy is like the wind or a Mockingjay on the trees. She will not be caught, nor will be forgotten. He will see her everywhere he turns her head and he will suffer. Likely so, in his pursuit of Lucy, Snow gets bitten by a snake–a fitting punishment.
In the second verse of the song, Olivia sings how everyone underestimated Lucy at the annual game. She comes from a musical group from District 12 and her fighting chances were slim. District 12 is also notoriously known for harsh winters and impoverished people who barely survive the winter.
I bet you figured I’d pass with the winter
Lucy knows that a lot of people believe that she will not survive the winter in District 12. Also, this line is a play on words for Coriolanus Snow believing that she would have followed him to the end of it all even after his betrayals.
Lucy Gray might have run away from Snow, but she is determined to haunt his dreams forever. What Lucy might not have known back then is that she might have been watering future seeds of malice.
Let us hear what you think about this song in the comments below. Read the complete lyrics to the song on Genius.