Unattainable

Song Meaning

The narrator grapples with a desire that feels just out of reach, admitting that the unattainability itself fuels a sense of self-loss. There's a hidden "deep secret" that remains unexpressed, buried alongside other unspoken things. This internal struggle seems tied to an external relationship where coercion is impossible, leading the narrator to a stark choice: "unloved instead." The core tension arises from this paradox: the more the narrator desires something or someone they cannot force, the more they feel themselves dissolving. The plea to "Jealousy, lay all your spells to bed" suggests an internal battle against envy, a recognition that these feelings are unproductive when faced with an "unattainable" goal. The narrator seems to be actively choosing a state of being unloved over the torment of pursuing what cannot be theirs. What's striking is the shift in Verse 2, where the narrator offers solace to others who might be "lonely ones" or "doubtful ones." This offers a potential out, a redirection of energy from the unattainable object of desire to a more communal form of support. The offer to wait "with open arms" for those lost in the "rough" suggests a capacity for empathy, even as the narrator struggles with their own unfulfilled longing. Ultimately, these lyrics resonate because they capture the quiet desperation of wanting what you can't have and the internal gymnastics required to cope. The narrator's decision to "choose unloved" is a powerful, albeit bleak, assertion of control in a situation where control is otherwise impossible, highlighting the complex relationship between desire, self-worth, and acceptance.