Cherish (45 Mix)

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of unrequited love, where the narrator deeply cherishes someone who remains unaware or unresponsive. The opening lines establish a profound, hidden affection, repeatedly wishing for closeness and a reciprocal feeling. This intense desire is contrasted with the painful realization that the object of affection is moving on, leading to a sense of personal 'perish' for the narrator's hopes. The central tension lies in the narrator's struggle to articulate their feelings effectively. They lament the lack of the 'right words' to make the other person understand and reciprocate. This frustration is amplified by the fear that admitting need would reduce their affection to that of 'a thousand other guys,' diminishing its sincerity and uniqueness in the eyes of the beloved. The repeated phrase "You don't know how many times I've wished" underscores the depth of the narrator's longing and the silent suffering they endure. The wordplay between "cherish" and "perish" is particularly striking, highlighting how the very act of cherishing can lead to the destruction of hope when it's not returned. The narrator's desire to "mold" the other person suggests a desperate wish to shape them into someone capable of returning the same depth of feeling. Ultimately, the song's power comes from its raw depiction of yearning and the quiet desperation of loving someone who doesn't love you back in the same way. The repeated, simple affirmation "And I do / Cherish you" at the end, after the expression of pain and frustration, serves as a poignant, almost defiant, declaration of their enduring, albeit unfulfilled, devotion.