Song Meaning
The lyrics immediately establish a tone of profound regret, with the speaker lamenting, "We should've been enemies." This isn't just a wish for distance, but a stark declaration that outright conflict "would've been better than" the current, unspecified reality. It's a powerful, inverted form of regret, suggesting the present state is worse than any imagined animosity.
The central emotional tension revolves around a desperate plea to "Start it again," a yearning to undo a catastrophic connection. This desire for a reset isn't a hopeful fresh start, but a primal urge to return "to the water" or "to the trees," suggesting a wish to erase the very foundation of what transpired. Yet, this longing is immediately undercut by the chilling realization that "Things aren't what they seem."
The lyrical craft intensifies this yearning for erasure by introducing the jarring image of "The blood on the altar." This isn't a gentle rewind; it implies a violent, sacrificial act is necessary to achieve this reset. It contrasts sharply with the natural imagery, suggesting that any return to innocence or a prior state is now irrevocably tainted or demands a heavy, ritualistic price.
The effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their raw, existential dread and the pervasive questioning of reality. The verse blurs the lines between consciousness and illusion, asking what difference it makes if one is "lying awake or trapped in a dream?" This profound disorientation culminates in the haunting query, "Are you on your own or stuck here with me?", revealing a sense of shared, inescapable entrapment where even blame feels futile, cementing a mutual, irreversible despair.