Song Meaning
The narrator is fed up with a partner's deceit, specifically their "alibis" and "silver tongued lies." Yet, despite this exhaustion, a powerful "infatuation" persists. This internal conflict fuels the core of the song: a refusal to let go of love even when faced with clear evidence of betrayal and a partner who "walk[s] the line unnetted." The repeated declaration, "I'm not through lovin' you yet," becomes a defiant mantra against the pain.
The central tension lies in the narrator's awareness versus their emotional attachment. They "clearly see" the partner's transgressions but remain "still infatuated." This creates a push-and-pull between rational understanding and undeniable feeling. The lyrics suggest a deep-seated hope that the dynamic will eventually shift, as indicated by the lines about the "tide" changing and the "hunter's line" falling prey.
The most striking craft element is the subtle yet potent imagery of reversal and consequence. Phrases like "Someday the tide is gonna change" and "Sometimes the hunter's line falls prey" hint at a future where the tables are turned. The narrator, though currently "stand[ing] by," is not a passive victim; they understand "more than one way 'round the rules." This implies a quiet confidence that the partner's actions will eventually lead to their own downfall or regret.
This song hits hard because it captures the messy reality of loving someone who consistently disappoints. It’s not about blind devotion, but about a stubborn, self-aware persistence in the face of undeniable hurt. The narrator's acknowledgment of their own "infatuation" alongside their clear-eyed view of the partner's flaws makes their continued affection feel less like weakness and more like a complex, perhaps even defiant, choice.