Tessellate

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a relationship steeped in danger and a desperate, almost ritualistic intimacy. The opening lines immediately establish a predatory dynamic, with the narrator comparing their lover to a shark and themselves to bleeding prey. This isn't a gentle affection; it's a violent, consuming force where the narrator's heart still beats despite the damage. The presence of the lover's "friends sniffing" adds a layer of social threat, suggesting a wider circle that might exploit or judge this intense connection. The central tension lies in the narrator's simultaneous attraction to and fear of this destructive love. The chorus offers a stark contrast, shifting to the geometric precision of "triangles" as a "favourite shape." This mathematical order seems to be a refuge or a metaphor for the structured intimacy they seek with their lover, "toe to toe, back to back." The repeated plea to "tessellate" suggests a desire to fit together perfectly, to create a stable, repeating pattern out of the chaos, before morning comes and the harsh reality sets in. The imagery of "three guns and one goes off" is particularly striking, hinting at a dangerous situation where violence is imminent or has already occurred. The subsequent lines about "chunks of you" being consumed by "seals" and "nosh[ed] the love away" are brutal, suggesting a complete annihilation of the relationship's positive aspects. Yet, even in this destruction, the narrator insists, "you will still haunt me," revealing a lingering, inescapable attachment that transcends the physical or emotional devastation. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their unflinching portrayal of a love that is both exhilarating and terrifying. The juxtaposition of violent predation with the desire for geometric order creates a unique emotional landscape. The narrator's willingness to "tessellate" even amidst the "bleeding" and the "guns" speaks to a profound, perhaps self-destructive, need for connection, even when that connection is inherently dangerous and ultimately consuming.