What Are We Doing

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a relationship caught in a cycle of intense highs and lows. The opening verse establishes this push-and-pull with rapid-fire contrasts: "good, we're bad," "cuss, we laugh," "fire, we're ice." This creates a sense of volatile energy, immediately followed by the confusing dynamic of being pursued and then ignored. The narrator is left bewildered by this erratic behavior, setting the stage for the central question. The core tension lies in the narrator's inability to reconcile the passionate moments with the painful conflicts. They describe being kissed and held, then immediately fighting and hating each other, even hating the act of hating. This internal conflict is so consuming that it leads to sleepless nights, specifically questioning why they continue to push away someone they seem to desire, as evidenced by the line "kickin' you out of my bed." This self-sabotage is a key driver of the song's emotional weight. The most striking craft element is the relentless use of opposing pairs and the direct, repeated question, "What are we doing?" This structure mirrors the chaotic nature of the relationship itself. The constant back-and-forth in the verses, combined with the insistent, almost desperate chorus, hammers home the confusion and frustration. The repetition of the central question, punctuated by the "Oh-oh"s, feels like a plea for clarity that never quite arrives. This lyrical approach is effective because it captures the disorienting feeling of being trapped in an unhealthy dynamic. The rapid-fire descriptions of contradictory actions and emotions make the listener feel the narrator's own confusion. The simple, direct question at the heart of the song resonates because it articulates a universal struggle: trying to make sense of a relationship that defies logic and causes pain, yet remains compelling.