Square by Mitski Lyrics Meaning – A Labyrinth of Unrequited Love and Self-Discovery
Lyrics
I once noticed from there
In your bed, as you slept
And I held my breath
Everything had its own place
And I wondered what space would I take
In the order you kept
I tried to eat like your girlfriend
Just tea in the night, I’d end up
Too hungry to sleep
So lying awake
I would follow the aching inside
I would find
It’s for you won’t be mine
I tried my hardest, for I’d never learned
God’s very simple and love shouldn’t burn
And I would’ve offered you all that you yearned for
But I was still waiting for something to earn
What is that quiet of snow in the night?
The dark rings with white noise as you stand and drown
Maybe it’s all of these snowflakes
Screaming a choir of mute
As they brace for the ground
Well, that’s my ride
Hope you had a good night
You know, you made me happy
Here, shake my hand
You make such a good man
Never once did you know me
I tried my hardest, for how do you learn
God’s very simple and love doesn’t burn
And maybe you’d offered me all that I yearned for
But I was still waiting for something to earn
Silly me, waiting
Mitski’s poignant mastery of articulating the depths of unrequited love and the restless quest for belonging finds a resonant voice in the bittersweet melodies of ‘Square’. The song is a profound exploration of self-effacement and longing, set within the confines of an emotionally charged space that resonates with many who have loved without reciprocation.
Peeling back the layers of ‘Square’, one finds not only a narrative of romantic desire but also a reflective confessional that veers into the spaces of identity and worth. As we venture into the quiet turmoil of the song’s protagonist, Mitski musicalizes the hollow hunger for acceptance and the self-inflicted penance that often accompanies unfulfilled love.
The Geometry of Longing: Dissecting the Song’s Title
The very title ‘Square’ sets a foundation for the restrained, methodical nature of desire that Mitski encapsulates in her lyrics. In geometric terms, a square represents order, conformity, and structure – qualities often aspired to within relationships. By invoking this shape, Mitski draws us into a world where everything has its place, yet the narrator struggles to find their spot within the beloved’s meticulously crafted life.
This quest for a ‘space’ reflects not just a yearning to fit into another person’s world but also the internal conflict of resizing one’s own identity to match the expectations of a relationship. The spatial confines of the square come to symbolize the constraints within which the protagonist must navigate their affections.
‘Just Tea in the Night’ – Starvation for Affection
The narrator’s attempts to mirror the habits of the beloved’s partner, surviving only on tea, becomes a powerful metaphor for emotional starvation. The hunger here is dual-edged; it’s physical as a consequence of self-denial and emotional from a love that remains unfulfilled.
Each line is a quiet lament of self-deprivation. The physical act of hunger parallels the emptiness within the protagonist’s heart — an aching for intimacy and recognition that remains out of reach. Mitski’s lyrics convey the extremes to which one may go to mold themselves into the ideal vision of what they believe their loved one desires.
The Complex Tapestry of Love: God, Burning, and Yearning
Religious imagery intertwines with the lessons of love; the song wrestles with the notion that ‘God’s very simple and love shouldn’t burn.’ There is a plea for purity in these words, a yearning for a love that is straightforward and free from pain. Yet, the narrative subverts this idea, revealing a complex emotion that consumes and at times, scorches.
As the song progresses, there’s a subtle shift from ‘love shouldn’t burn’ to ‘love doesn’t burn,’ suggesting a realization or resignation to love’s true form – one that is neither simple nor pain-free. It’s an acknowledgment of the transformative, sometimes incendiary, nature of love and the scars it can leave.
A Snowfall of Silent Screams: The Hidden Lyrical Depths
Perhaps one of the most haunting images is the quiet snowfall that ‘rings with white noise’ as the narrator listens to the crushing silence of their love falling unheard. The snow evokes a soft but chilling isolation, and the ‘screaming’ snowflakes are akin to stifled emotions that are ignored or unable to be expressed.
The sense of muted outcry in the ‘choir of mute’ reflects the internal conflict of yearning to be recognized while simultaneously preparing to brace for the fall, for the imminent disappointment and the eventual impact of unreciprocated emotions.
‘Never Once Did You Know Me’: The Lacerating Farewell
Within the deceptively simple exchange of goodbyes, Mitski lays bare the essential sorrow of the song. The parting reveals a profound misalignment between the narrator’s internal world and how they are perceived by their beloved. The admission ‘Never once did you know me’ speaks to a chasm of understanding and the unbridgeable divide between their experiences.
This line stands out as a heart-wrenchingly memorable moment, illustrating the invisible barrier between the narrator and the object of their affection. The painful irony of the protagonist’s happiness in the presence of unrequited love amplifies the song’s emotional resonance, leaving listeners with a lingering sense of introspection.
