Ego vs The Unconscious: A Psychoanalytic Reading of Unsolved Trauma in Joji’s Past Won’t Leave My Bed

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the representation of the conflict between the ego and the
unconscious, as well as the dynamics of unresolved trauma, in the lyrics of Joji’s song “Past
Won’t Leave My Bed.” Additionally, this study aims to identify how these psychological
patterns consistently emerge through their connection to other songs, such as “Glimpse of Us,”
“Will He,” and “Slow Dancing in the Dark.” This study employs a qualitative approach using
text analysis grounded in Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory. The primary data, consisting
of song lyrics, were analyzed through documentation and literature review techniques, then
processed using data analysis steps according to Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña, as well as
Creswell. The analysis was conducted thematically to identify patterns of trauma
representation, including the persistence of the unconscious, intrapsychic conflict, the
emergence of intrusive thoughts, superego pressure, and conditions of psychological
helplessness. The results of the study indicate that trauma in song lyrics is not only represented
as an emotional experience but also as a complex and recurring psychological process. The
conflict between the ego and the unconscious is evident through the individual’s inability to let
go of the past, which continues to intrude into consciousness. These findings confirm that
unresolved traumatic experiences can lead to anxiety, emotional dependency, and
psychological imbalance. Thus, this study reinforces the relevance of the psychoanalytic
approach in the study of modern music while demonstrating that song lyrics can reflect real
and profound psychological states.
Keywords: psychoanalysis, trauma, unconscious, song lyrics, intrapsychic conflict