Song Meaning
Ronnie and Frankie navigate a world of indirect affections. They miss Meredith, a feeling complicated by the fact she's "Owen's friend, not their friend." Yet, their capacity for connection extends to "love Momo," even if he's not "Joejoe." This brief interlude sketches a landscape of wistful longing and conditional attachment.
The central emotional tension here lies in the repeated "even though" clauses. Ronnie and Frankie's feelings aren't straightforward; they exist despite circumstances that might typically diminish them. Missing Meredith, for instance, isn't about a direct bond but an observation of someone else's connection. Similarly, their affection for Momo carries the weight of an unspoken comparison, suggesting a substitute or a different kind of love.
The craft is subtle but powerful. The entire piece unfolds as a single, declarative thought, mirroring the unvarnished honesty of these emotions. The repeated "even though" acts as a quiet anchor, emphasizing that these feelings of missing and loving persist in spite of the less-than-ideal reality. This directness, combined with the simple naming of characters, gives the lyrics an almost childlike candor, making the complex emotional landscape feel immediate and authentic.
These lyrics are effective because they capture the quiet complexities of human connection, particularly the way affection can bloom in unexpected or secondary ways. It's a snapshot of longing that isn't possessive, and love that acknowledges its own conditions. The listener is left with a sense of empathy for Ronnie and Frankie, whose feelings are genuine, even when they're not the primary focus of the relationships described.