Choice in the Matter

Song Meaning

The narrator is caught in a powerful, almost involuntary attraction, begging someone to repeat a "trick" that instantly "got the best" of them. This isn't just a fleeting moment; it's a re-enactment, a plea to "do that trick again for me" so they can "see" it more clearly, suggesting a desire to understand the overwhelming effect this person has. The core tension lies in the narrator's assertion of having "died" emotionally, believing they were "doing fine" with that "part of me that died." Yet, this deadened part "survived," resurrected by the very person who caused its demise. This survival isn't a triumphant return but a re-subjugation, a loss of control that contradicts their previous state of supposed emotional well-being. The repeated phrase "As if I had a choice in the matter" hammers home the narrator's sense of powerlessness. It's not just about the attraction; it's about the inevitability of it, the feeling that their fate was sealed the moment they encountered this person. This resignation is so profound that they "don't really mind if I ever make it out," indicating a surrender to the situation, a willingness to be consumed. This lyrical construction is effective because it juxtaposes a seemingly simple plea for a "trick" with a profound internal conflict. The repetition of the chorus and the post-chorus builds a sense of inescapable fate, mirroring the narrator's own experience. The contrast between "doing fine" and the "part of me that died" that "survived" creates a haunting image of emotional resurrection that is actually a form of defeat.