The Story So Far

Song Meaning

These lyrics paint a vivid picture of a narrator's recurring romantic disappointments, often stemming from an initial spark with a man who turns out to be unavailable. From a gallery encounter to a local queer bar, the pattern of hopeful anticipation followed by a swift letdown feels acutely observed. The emotional texture is a blend of wry humor, frustration, and a persistent, if weary, longing. The central tension here is the narrator's repeated experience of falling for men who are "great but often straight." This isn't just bad luck; it's a specific, frustrating pattern that shapes their dating life. The irony of finding a "honey" doorman at a queer bar, only for him to be "the only guy in the place that was straight," perfectly encapsulates this particular brand of romantic misfortune and the "I-can't-get-laid blues" it fosters. The repeated refrain, "And that's the story so far," acts as a punchline, highlighting the cyclical nature of these experiences. It's a conversational, almost shrug-of-the-shoulders acknowledgment of a pattern that feels inescapable. By the outro, this shifts to "that's the story of my life," deepening the emotional weight and suggesting these aren't isolated incidents but a defining aspect of the narrator's romantic journey. Ultimately, these lyrics are effective because they capture a very specific, yet widely relatable, frustration with dating. The narrator's candid observations, from despising "silly trends" within their community to the enduring search for a "cutie / With both brains and beauty," ground the narrative in honest, lived experience. It's a testament to resilience, keeping the faith even while acknowledging the long wait.