In the Stars by Benson Boone Review With Meaning

“In the Stars” by Benson Boone is a powerful, deeply personal, and heartbreaking piano ballad that chronicles the profound grief and crisis of faith experienced in the aftermath of a devastating loss.

The song is a raw and cathartic expression of the struggle to say a final goodbye to a loved one, using a stunning contrast of celestial and earthly imagery to convey the immense and painful distance that is created by death. It is an unflinching look at the anger, confusion, and overwhelming sadness that define the grieving process. In this article, we explore the meaning of this song, breaking down its metaphors and emotions.

Introduction to the Song

Released as a standalone single on April 29, 2022, and later included on his debut studio album, Fireworks & Rollerblades, in 2024, “In the Stars” is one of Benson Boone’s most defining and emotionally resonant hits. The track is a quintessential power ballad, showcasing Boone’s incredible vocal range and his remarkable ability to translate profound personal pain into a universally relatable anthem. The song’s deeply personal and heartbreaking subject matter connected instantly with a global audience, becoming a source of comfort and a shared expression of grief for millions.

The song is famous for its dramatic musical structure, which builds from a sparse, intimate, piano-led verse into an explosive and emotionally raw chorus. This dynamic shift perfectly mirrors the internal journey of grief, moving from quiet, nostalgic remembrance to a full-throated, cathartic release of pain and anger.

“In the Stars” is a work of staggering vulnerability and a testament to the healing power of music. It solidified Benson Boone’s status as a major new voice in pop music, an artist unafraid to explore the darkest corners of the human experience with raw honesty and breathtaking vocal power.

Central Theme & Message

The central theme of “In the Stars” is the multifaceted and overwhelming nature of grief. The song is a masterful and unflinching exploration of the various stages and feelings that accompany the loss of a loved one. It touches upon the painful beauty of nostalgia, the anger and confusion of a crisis of faith, the difficulty of letting go of tangible memories, and the profound, gut-wrenching pain of accepting the finality of death.

The song’s primary message is a raw and honest validation of the grieving process. It does not offer easy solutions, comforting platitudes, or a neat resolution. Instead, its message lies in its shared vulnerability. By laying his own heartbreak bare in such a candid and unfiltered way, Benson Boone provides a sense of companionship for those who are suffering. The song essentially says that it is okay to be angry at God, it is okay to feel like your heart has been shattered into pieces, and it is okay to struggle with saying a final goodbye. The power of the song lies not in offering an answer, but in its profound and empathetic understanding of the pain.

Furthermore, the track delivers a powerful message about the enduring nature of love and memory. The narrator’s desperate clinging to the things that are “dead and gone” is portrayed not as a weakness, but as a testament to the immense depth of his love. The pain he feels is directly proportional to the joy the person brought into his life. The song is a beautiful and heartbreaking tribute to a love so profound that its absence leaves a wound that feels impossible to heal.

Verse-by-Verse Meaning

Verse 1

The song’s opening verse immediately immerses the listener in a world of tender, nostalgic memory. The narrator begins by recalling a specific and cherished ritual: the Sunday mornings he used to share with a loved one. He paints a vivid and intimate picture, referencing a specific road where they would meet and the endearing way she would style her hair as if she were a famous person, even though they were only going to a simple church service. This opening establishes the deep, warm, and personal nature of the bond he has lost.

This beautiful memory is then immediately and cruelly contrasted with his current reality. The joyful and meaningful Sunday morning ritual has been replaced by an empty act of just sleeping in, a powerful symbol of his depression and the loss of purpose and routine that has accompanied his grief. The verse then takes a turn into a profound and painful crisis of faith. He reveals that this loss has been so devastating that it feels as though he has buried his own spiritual beliefs along with his loved one.

This spiritual crisis culminates in a moment of raw, desperate anger. The narrator describes himself screaming at a God whose existence he is no longer even sure of. This is a powerful and deeply relatable depiction of the anger and confusion that often accompany a profound loss, where one feels abandoned by the very spiritual framework that was supposed to provide comfort. He confesses that he is doing this because he does not know what other recourse he has, a heartbreaking admission of his complete and utter helplessness in the face of his overwhelming grief.

The Chorus

The chorus is an explosive and cathartic release of all the pain and longing that was built up in the verse. It is a powerful, full-throated expression of the narrator’s inability to let go. He begins by confessing that he is still desperately clinging to everything that is now gone, a direct acknowledgment of his struggle to accept the finality of his loss. He explains his refusal to say a final goodbye, revealing that he understands that this particular farewell is an eternal one, a concept that is too painful for him to fully embrace.

The chorus then introduces the song’s central and most poignant imagery. He contrasts the two realities of his loved one’s existence: she is now a celestial, spiritual being “in the stars,” a beautiful but heartbreakingly distant concept. This is immediately juxtaposed with the brutal, physical finality of her being “six feet” under the ground. He powerfully states that this physical distance of the grave has never felt so immense and insurmountable. The narrator then describes his own agonizing position, feeling trapped alone between the abstract idea of the heavens and the fiery, painful “embers” of his grief on Earth.

The chorus concludes with a direct and devastating statement of his pain. He cries out that his heart hurts for a million different reasons, a testament to the multifaceted nature of his sorrow. He then uses a powerful metaphor to describe the magnitude of his loss, stating that his loved one took the very best part of his heart with her when she left, and the part that remains has been shattered into pieces. This is a raw and visceral expression of a grief so profound that it feels like a physical dismemberment.

Verse 2

In the second verse, the narrator returns to a quieter, more intimate scene of grieving. He describes the common and often painful ritual of sifting through the old belongings of a person who has passed away. He is looking through her old birthday letters, tangible artifacts of a life that is now only a memory. Within a box, he finds a small, crumpled twenty-dollar bill, a seemingly insignificant object that is charged with immense emotional weight.

He then makes a deeply poignant confession. He reveals that he does not think he could ever bring himself to spend that specific twenty-dollar bill, even if it were the very last bit of money he had in the world. This is a powerful and deeply relatable symbol of the act of holding on. The bill is more than just currency; it is a tangible, physical link to his loved one, one of the last things that her hands touched. His inability to part with it is a metaphor for his inability to fully let go of her memory. He is desperately clinging to the last physical remnants of her presence in his life.

The Bridge

The bridge of the song is a moment of pure, focused, and escalating desperation. The structure is incredibly simple, with the narrator repeating the central idea that he is still “holding on.” However, the emotional intensity of this section builds with each repetition. It begins as a quiet, almost whispered confession, and gradually swells in power and volume.

This musical and emotional crescendo is crucial. It transforms the simple phrase from a statement of fact into a desperate, almost painful cry. It is the sound of someone whose grip is failing but who is refusing to release it. The raw, strained quality of Benson Boone’s voice in this section would convey a sense of a man using every last ounce of his emotional and physical strength to keep from being pulled under by the waves of his grief. It is a raw and powerful expression of his stubborn and heartbreaking refusal to let go.

Emotional Tone & Mood

The emotional tone of “In the Stars” is a powerful and dramatic journey that moves from a state of quiet, tender nostalgia to one of raw, desperate, and almost primal grief. The song is a masterclass in emotional dynamics. Benson Boone’s vocal performance is the central force driving this journey. In the verses, his delivery is soft, gentle, and almost whispery, perfectly capturing the fragile and intimate nature of his memories. This creates a tone of deep, sorrowful sincerity.

This quiet introspection is then completely shattered by the explosive chorus. Here, the tone shifts dramatically to one of pure, unadulterated anguish. Boone unleashes the full, raw power of his voice, creating a tone that is desperate, pained, and deeply cathartic. The mood of the song is a powerful rollercoaster of emotion. The sparse, piano-led verses create an atmosphere of intimate, almost lonely sadness. This makes the powerful, full-band explosion of the chorus feel even more immense and overwhelming. The overall mood is one of profound, beautiful sadness, a shared space of grief that is both heartbreaking and, in its raw honesty, deeply comforting.

Real-Life Events or Facts Related to the Song

“In the Stars” is a song that is deeply and inextricably rooted in a real-life tragedy from Benson Boone’s own life. Its profound emotional power comes from its complete and unflinching authenticity.

The True Story: A Tribute to His Great-Grandmother Benson Boone has been very open in interviews and on his social media platforms that the song is about the devastating loss of his great-grandmother, to whom he was extremely close. She passed away at the age of 97, and the song was his way of processing the immense grief he felt in the wake of her death. The specific, tender details in the lyrics are not fictional embellishments; they are real memories. He has confirmed that the Sunday morning church ritual was something they shared and that the painful discovery of the old birthday letters and the crumpled twenty-dollar bill was a real experience he had while going through her belongings.

Songwriting as Therapy Boone has described the process of writing “In the Stars” as a form of personal therapy. He was struggling to articulate the immense pain and confusion he was feeling, including a genuine crisis of his own faith. He has explained that channeling these raw emotions into the song was a crucial and cathartic step in his own grieving process. He wrote the song not with the intention of creating a hit, but as a way to navigate his own heartbreak.

Viral Success Through Emotional Connection The song’s journey to becoming a global hit was not driven by a clever marketing campaign or a dance trend, but by its profound and immediate emotional resonance. It went viral on TikTok as a sound that people used to share their own stories of grief and remembrance. The song’s raw honesty provided a soundtrack for millions of users to create tributes to their own lost loved ones, creating a global community of shared grief and healing around the track. This powerful, organic connection is what propelled it to the top of the charts worldwide.

Metaphors & Symbolism

“In the Stars” uses a collection of beautiful and powerful metaphors and symbols to convey the profound and complex experience of grief.

In the Stars The song’s title is a beautiful and comforting symbol for the afterlife or the spiritual realm where the narrator imagines his loved one now resides. The stars are celestial, distant, and eternally beautiful. Placing her “in the stars” is a poetic way of elevating her memory to a divine and peaceful plane. However, it also emphasizes the heartbreaking and unreachable nature of this new existence.

Six Feet This is the brutal, physical, and earthly counterpoint to the celestial image of the stars. The mention of “six feet” is a stark and direct symbol of the physical reality of death, burial, and the grave. It grounds the beautiful, spiritual fantasy of the stars in a painful and unavoidable truth. The immense emotional and physical distance the narrator feels is perfectly captured in the powerful contrast between these two symbols.

Between the Heavens and the Embers This is a powerful and original metaphor for the agonizing state of being a griever on Earth. The narrator is trapped between two realms: he is looking up at the “heavens,” the spiritual, starry place where his loved one’s soul might be, while simultaneously being consumed by the “embers,” the hot, burning, and painful remnants of his love and his grief here on the physical plane.

The Crumpled Twenty The crumpled twenty-dollar bill is a poignant symbol of a final, tangible connection to the deceased. It is more than just money; it is a mundane object that has been transformed into a sacred relic because it was one of the last things she touched. The narrator’s refusal to ever spend it is a powerful metaphor for his refusal to let go of her memory and the last physical pieces of her that he has left.

Burying Faith The narrator’s feeling of having buried his faith along with his grandmother is a profound metaphor for the deep spiritual crisis that often accompanies a devastating loss. It symbolizes the idea that his faith was so deeply intertwined with her presence and his belief in a benevolent God that her death shattered not only his heart but also his entire spiritual foundation.

FAQs

Question 1: What is the true story behind “In the Stars”? Answer 1: “In the Stars” is a deeply personal song written by Benson Boone about the profound grief he experienced after the death of his beloved great-grandmother. The lyrics are filled with real memories and his honest struggles with the loss.

Question 2: Who is the person the song is dedicated to? Answer 2: The song is dedicated to Benson Boone’s late great-grandmother, who passed away at the age of 97 and with whom he shared a very close bond.

Question 3: What does the narrator mean by the phrase “between the heavens and the embers”? Answer 3: This is a powerful metaphor for the state of grief. He feels trapped between looking up at the “heavens” where her spirit might be, and being consumed by the “embers,” the burning pain of his grief on Earth.

Question 4: Why is the chorus so much louder and more powerful than the verses? Answer 4: The dramatic shift in dynamics is an artistic choice that mirrors the experience of grief. The quiet verses represent the sad, nostalgic memories, while the loud, explosive chorus represents the overwhelming, cathartic release of raw pain and anger.

Question 5: What is the significance of the crumpled twenty-dollar bill? Answer 5: The twenty-dollar bill is a symbol of a final, tangible connection to his great-grandmother. His refusal to ever spend it is a metaphor for his refusal to let go of the last physical pieces of her memory.

Question 6: Is “In the Stars” a religious song? Answer 6: The song is deeply spiritual but also documents a crisis of faith. The narrator is screaming at a God he is not sure he believes in, making it a raw and honest portrayal of struggling with one’s beliefs in the face of tragedy.

Question 7: What are the “beautiful things” that the narrator’s other hit song refers to? Answer 7: In his other famous song, the “beautiful things” refer to the blessings of a happy life, like a loving partner and peace of mind. Both songs explore the theme of having something precious and the emotions that surround it.

Question 8: What does the line about “six feet’s never felt so far” mean? Answer 8: This line powerfully contrasts the seemingly small physical distance of a grave with the infinite and insurmountable emotional and spiritual distance created by death. It is a heartbreaking expression of his feeling of separation.

Question 9: Why does the narrator say he has “buried my faith with you”? Answer 9: This is a metaphor for the profound loss of his spiritual beliefs following her death. His faith was so connected to her that her passing felt like the death of his faith as well, leaving him feeling spiritually abandoned.

Question 10: How did “In the Stars” become a hit? Answer 10: The song became a massive global hit primarily through its viral success on TikTok, where its raw emotion and powerful chorus resonated deeply with users who used it as a soundtrack for their own stories of grief and remembrance.

Question 11: What is the overall emotional journey of the song? Answer 11: The song takes the listener on a journey from quiet, tender nostalgia and a crisis of faith in the verses, to an explosive and cathartic expression of pain and longing in the chorus, and finally to a desperate, repeated plea of holding on in the bridge.

Question 12: What does he mean by saying this goodbye “means forever”? Answer 12: He is acknowledging the absolute finality of death. Unlike a breakup or a temporary separation, this goodbye is permanent and irreversible, which is what makes it so incredibly painful and difficult for him to accept.

Question 13: What is the overall mood of the song? Answer 13: The mood is one of profound, beautiful sadness and cathartic release. The sparse verses create an intimate and lonely atmosphere, which makes the powerful, grief-stricken explosion of the chorus feel even more overwhelming.

Question 14: How does this song showcase Benson Boone’s vocal talent? Answer 14: The song is a perfect showcase for his dynamic vocal range and emotional delivery. It highlights his ability to sing with a soft, gentle vulnerability in the verses and then unleash a raw, powerful, and rock-influenced belt in the chorus.

Question 15: What is the significance of the “Sunday mornings” memory? Answer 15: The specific memory of their Sunday morning church ritual serves to establish the warmth, love, and spiritual nature of their bond. The loss of this specific routine becomes a powerful symbol for the larger void that her death has left in his life.

Question 16: Does the song offer a sense of hope or closure? Answer 16: The song does not offer easy closure. It ends with the narrator still desperately “holding on,” suggesting that grief is a long and ongoing process. The hope in the song is more subtle, found in the act of sharing the pain itself, which creates a sense of communal comfort.

Question 17: What does he mean by her taking the “best of my heart”? Answer 17: This is a metaphor for the immense and positive impact she had on his life. She filled his heart with so much love and joy that her departure feels like a physical removal of the best part of him, leaving only broken pieces behind.

Question 18: What is the role of the piano in the song? Answer 18: The piano is the song’s primary instrumental voice. Its simple, melancholic chords create the intimate and sorrowful atmosphere of the verses, providing a stark and effective foundation for the song’s emotional journey.

Question 19: Why do so many people connect with this song? Answer 19: People connect with it because it is a raw, honest, and unfiltered portrayal of a universal human experience: grief. The song validates the complex and often messy emotions of loss, making listeners feel seen and understood in their own pain.

Question 20: What is the ultimate feeling the song leaves the listener with? Answer 20: The ultimate feeling is one of profound, cathartic empathy. It is a heartbreakingly beautiful song that allows the listener to share in a moment of profound loss, leaving them with a deep appreciation for the love that was lost and a sense of companionship in the shared experience of grief.