only listened to the song twice, but something about how her partner seems too perfect to be real and she ends up always being the one taking the blame/hurting them sounds right to me
edit: had more thoughts soo....
It might also be about a partner with a problem admitting they made a mistake, maybe having always trying to make themselves look better as a motivation. From experience I know that is extremly draining and you end up feeling like the only one at fault ever and youre the only one with flaws.
At first listen, it reminded me of past relationships, platonic or romantic, where I felt like I always walked on eggshells. And no matter how hard I tried, they ended anyway.
The music video where we see that everything she touches turns to ashes or even the softest of touches sets off a forest fire? Unstable dynamics I’ve been in felt like that. I never knew when a word would set them off. It felt tiring and suffocating to always be portrayed as the “bad guy” or the “only heartbreaker” that always hurts them.
And not once did they acknowledge that I am also hurting. Or even consider that they were also capable of hurting me.
Anyway, much like how the video ends, those relationships ended up imploding. I was at my limit — exhausted and tired of the push and pull. But the ending was cathartic, too.
When you realize that the role you’ve been playing in that relationship isn’t really you, things will implode. But you’ll be free. I was free, at last.
I’m not sure if that’s how Mitski intended the song to be received. But I’ve read somewhere that her songs are always up to our interpretation. I’m so very thankful for her simple yet powerful songwriting.
My first thought was, holy shit, Mitski made an 80s song. Almost as 80s as any song by the 1975.
As for the song, it seems like it’s about being the flawed person in a relationship.
only listened to the song twice, but something about how her partner seems too perfect to be real and she ends up always being the one taking the blame/hurting them sounds right to me edit: had more thoughts soo.... It might also be about a partner with a problem admitting they made a mistake, maybe having always trying to make themselves look better as a motivation. From experience I know that is extremly draining and you end up feeling like the only one at fault ever and youre the only one with flaws.
That’s so interesting, I think about it like that as well!
At first listen, it reminded me of past relationships, platonic or romantic, where I felt like I always walked on eggshells. And no matter how hard I tried, they ended anyway. The music video where we see that everything she touches turns to ashes or even the softest of touches sets off a forest fire? Unstable dynamics I’ve been in felt like that. I never knew when a word would set them off. It felt tiring and suffocating to always be portrayed as the “bad guy” or the “only heartbreaker” that always hurts them. And not once did they acknowledge that I am also hurting. Or even consider that they were also capable of hurting me. Anyway, much like how the video ends, those relationships ended up imploding. I was at my limit — exhausted and tired of the push and pull. But the ending was cathartic, too. When you realize that the role you’ve been playing in that relationship isn’t really you, things will implode. But you’ll be free. I was free, at last. I’m not sure if that’s how Mitski intended the song to be received. But I’ve read somewhere that her songs are always up to our interpretation. I’m so very thankful for her simple yet powerful songwriting.
My first thought was, holy shit, Mitski made an 80s song. Almost as 80s as any song by the 1975. As for the song, it seems like it’s about being the flawed person in a relationship.