☝️ Key Points
- The song lyrics are about a complex and difficult love relationship, in which the protagonist regrets their mistakes and omissions.
- The line 'You're like a tattoo, something I can't undo' symbolizes the indelibility and lasting influence of the relationship.
- The protagonist hopes with 'I hope I got under your skin too' that their love has also made a lasting impression on the other person.
- The statements 'I treat you like a credit card I can't afford, I drain you like a bank account until there's nothing more' and 'I treat you like a cigarette, such a bad habit, avoid you like alcohol, I can't really stand it' show that the relationship is harmful and the protagonist is in internal conflict.
- The lines 'I feel like nothing is ever the same, I feel like something is about to change, everything stopped, we hit the ceiling' express insecurity, change, and the possible end of the relationship.
Interpretation
The lyrics of 'F*****g Up What Matters' by
Tegan and Sara are about a complex and difficult love relationship. The chorus 'I'm fucking up what matters' suggests mistakes and shortcomings in the relationship that the protagonist has made and regrets.
The line 'You're like a tattoo, something I can't undo' expresses that the relationship and the associated feelings have had a deep impact on her and cannot be easily erased. It is a metaphor for the indelibility and lasting influence that the relationship has on her.
The words 'I hope I got under your skin too' show the protagonist's desire for her love to have also made a deep impression on the other person.
The passage 'I treat you like a credit card I can't afford, I drain you like a bank account until there's nothing more' shows that the protagonist perceives the relationship as harmful and draining for the other person. She describes herself as a kind of parasite who takes advantage of and emotionally exploits the other person.
The words 'I treat you like a cigarette, such a bad habit, avoid you like alcohol, I can't really stand it' illustrate the protagonist's inner conflict and turmoil. She is aware that the relationship is harmful, but can't stay away from it.
The lines 'I feel like nothing is ever the same, I feel like something is about to change, everything stopped, we hit the ceiling' express the feeling of insecurity, change, and an ending. She seems to sense that the relationship has reached a turning point or end.
Overall, 'F*****g Up What Matters' is an honest and open portrayal of love, regret, and the desire to undo the past.