9 (After Coachella)

Song Meaning

The lyrics immediately plunge into a state of resigned attraction, with the narrator repeatedly acknowledging an inescapable truth: "You'll never be mine." Yet, this stark acceptance doesn't diminish a powerful, almost magnetic pull toward the other person. It sets up a compelling tension between knowing and feeling. The core conflict here lies in the speaker's simultaneous awareness of a relationship's impossibility and their intense, almost masochistic enjoyment of the present moment. The narrator explicitly states, "I like the way," referring to the other person's "body moving" and the way their own "heart is booming." This conveys a visceral, undeniable attraction that exists despite the clear understanding of the situation. This present-tense enjoyment contrasts sharply with the repeated, almost mantra-like declaration of "You'll never be mine," creating a bittersweet emotional landscape where desire persists against all odds. A particularly striking element is the speaker's fascination with the other person's ability to "spread confusion." This isn't framed as a negative; rather, it's something "I like," suggesting a thrill in the unpredictable, the emotionally complex, or even the chaotic nature of this connection. The relentless repetition of "I know, I know" in the pre-chorus emphasizes a deep-seated, almost weary acceptance of the situation. This internal dialogue, coupled with the "On and on" refrain in the chorus and outro, suggests a cyclical, almost obsessive state where the speaker is trapped in this loop of attraction and acceptance, unable to break free. These lyrics are effective because they capture the raw, often contradictory experience of unrequited desire with striking honesty. The speaker isn't lamenting their fate but rather embracing the intense, albeit fleeting, sensations that come with it. By highlighting the pleasure found even in "confusion" and the "heart is booming," the lyrics portray a powerful, self-aware emotional state. It resonates with anyone who's felt drawn to something they know is ultimately unattainable, finding a strange beauty in the bittersweet reality of unfulfilled longing.