You've probably been there. You're stuck in a bit of a rut, the news is a dumpster fire, and your bank account is looking a little thinner than you’d like. Then, that bright, shimmying synth line kicks in. Neiked, Mae Muller, and Polo G start doing their thing. Honestly, the better days neiked lyrics didn't just become a TikTok trend by accident; they tapped into a collective nerve that we're all still feeling years later. It’s that weird, beautiful intersection of Swedish pop production, British sass, and Chicago drill influence that somehow makes you believe, even for three minutes, that things are gonna be okay.
It’s catchy.
But it’s also deeper than people give it credit for. While the song feels like sunshine, the lyrics actually acknowledge the "gray" we're trying to escape.
The Anatomy of the Better Days Neiked Lyrics
Let’s look at why this worked. Neiked (the Swedish duo Victor Rådström and Maciel Numhauser) has this uncanny ability to make "fun" sound sophisticated. When Mae Muller drops that first line about "living in a dream," she isn't saying life is perfect. She’s saying she’s choosing to see it that way.
The core of the better days neiked lyrics revolves around a simple, infectious hook: "I've been thinking there's some better days / Better days, better days." It’s repetitive because hope is a mantra. You have to say it until you believe it. Most pop songs try to sell you a fantasy where the problem is already solved. This song is different. It’s about the anticipation of the solution. It’s about being in the middle of the mess and looking toward the exit sign.
Mae Muller’s Relatable Energy
Mae Muller brings a specific kind of "cool girl" nonchalance to the track. She talks about "sipping on a drink" and "looking at the view," which sounds like standard influencer fare, but her delivery is grounded. She sounds like a friend telling you to stop overthinking your breakup or your job stress. When she sings about how she "used to be so cold," she’s referencing that emotional numbness that comes with burnout. We’ve all been there.
The lyrics don’t shy away from the idea of "yesterday" being a drag. It’s a song built on the contrast between the heavy past and the light future.
💡 You might also like: Why Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Actors Still Define the Modern Spy Thriller
Polo G: The Unexpected Bridge
Then you have Polo G. This was a move nobody saw coming. You take a guy known for "Rapstar" and "Pop Out"—someone whose lyrics usually deal with the harsh realities of North Marshall Boulevard in Chicago—and put him on a bubbly pop track.
It works because he brings stakes to the song.
When Polo G enters the better days neiked lyrics landscape, he talks about his "mind racing" and "heart turning cold." He mentions "growing up in the trenches." This adds a layer of authenticity that a pure pop singer might have missed. He’s saying that "better days" aren't just about a better party or a new car; for some, better days mean survival and peace of mind. His verse grounds the song’s optimism in a reality that feels earned. He mentions "elevating" and "changing the scenery," which is a universal desire regardless of where you started.
Why This Song Blew Up on TikTok and Beyond
We have to talk about the algorithm. You couldn't open a social media app in late 2021 or 2022 without hearing that sped-up version of the chorus. But why that song?
Context matters.
The world was coming out of a series of lockdowns. People were exhausted. The better days neiked lyrics became the soundtrack to "glow-up" videos, travel montages, and people finally quitting jobs they hated. It was a sonic manifestation of the "main character energy" trend. The song provides a rhythmic blueprint for optimism.
📖 Related: The Entire History of You: What Most People Get Wrong About the Grain
Moreover, the production is incredibly "clean." Neiked uses a lot of negative space. The drums don't crowd the vocals, allowing the message of the lyrics to breathe. It’s a masterclass in less-is-more.
Breaking Down the Verse Structure
If you look closely at the verses, the song follows a classic "problem/solution" narrative.
- Verse 1: Establishes the headspace. It's about dreaming and trying to find a vibe.
- Chorus: The manifestation. The "better days" chant.
- Verse 2: The reality check. Polo G acknowledges the struggle but commits to the climb.
- Bridge: The release. Everything builds up to that final explosive chorus where the horns come in.
It’s a simple structure, but it’s executed with surgical precision. Most pop songs fail because they try to do too much. Neiked kept it focused on one emotion: relief.
The Cultural Impact of "Better Days"
The song peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100, but its cultural footprint is much larger than its chart position suggests. It turned Mae Muller into a household name, eventually leading her to represent the UK in Eurovision. It showed that Polo G had the range to cross over into the pop world without losing his edge.
But more importantly, the better days neiked lyrics became a sort of digital comfort food.
Music psychologists often talk about "mood-congruent" vs. "mood-incongruent" listening. Sometimes when you're sad, you want to listen to Adele and cry. Other times, you need "mood-repair" music. "Better Days" is the ultimate mood-repair track. It acknowledges that things were bad ("I was so low") but insists that the trajectory is upward.
👉 See also: Shamea Morton and the Real Housewives of Atlanta: What Really Happened to Her Peach
Common Misconceptions About the Song
People often think this is just a "happy" song. It’s not.
If you really listen to the lyrics, it’s a song about recovery. There is a subtle melancholy in the production—those minor-key synth stabs in the background—that suggests the "better days" haven't quite arrived yet. We're still waiting for them. That’s what makes the song so relatable. If it were just 100% happy, it would be annoying. Because it’s about the hope for happiness, it’s universal.
Another misconception is that the lyrics are "shallow." While they aren't Shakespeare, they use effective imagery. "Cloud nine," "sunshine in my pocket," "looking at the view"—these are tropes, sure, but they are used as anchors. In a world that feels increasingly chaotic, these simple symbols of peace are what people gravitate toward.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Playlist
If the better days neiked lyrics resonate with you, there’s actually a way to use music like this to improve your daily routine. This isn't just "feel-good" advice; it’s about how we use audio to prime our brains.
- Use it for "Transition Periods": Listen to this track when you're moving from a high-stress environment (like work) to your personal time. It helps reset the emotional clock.
- Pay Attention to the Polo G Verse: Next time you listen, focus on the lyrics about "elevating." It’s a great reminder that progress isn't just about external things, but about how you process your past.
- Explore the Remixes: The acoustic version of the song strips away the synths and highlights the vulnerability in Mae's voice. It changes the meaning of the lyrics from a celebration to a quiet prayer.
- Check Out Neiked’s Other Work: If you like the "clean" pop sound, songs like "Sexual" or "Signals" carry that same Swedish-pop-DNA that makes the production on "Better Days" so addictive.
Ultimately, the reason we’re still talking about these lyrics years after the song's release is that they don't lie to us. They don't say life is easy. They just promise that the "gray" doesn't last forever. And sometimes, that's exactly what you need to hear when you're driving home at 6:00 PM on a Tuesday.
To get the most out of the track, listen to the official lyric video to catch the nuances in the backing vocals you might miss on a casual radio play. Pay attention to the way the bass interacts with the "better days" vocal chops in the final 30 seconds—it’s a masterclass in pop climax. From there, you can build out a "Manifestation Pop" playlist that keeps that specific frequency going throughout your day.