Mitski’s song “I Want You,” from her album “Retired from Sad, New Career in Business,” is a sad and intense song about one-sided love.
In the song, Mitski explores the pain of trying to salvage a failing relationship, even though she knows it’s unlikely to succeed. She longs for the other person to return to her life so much that she repeats the phrase “I want you” throughout the song.
In this analysis, we’ll delve into the true meaning behind the lyrics of “I Want You.”
Table of Contents
“I Want You” Lyrics Meaning
[Verse 1]
I want you
I hold one card
That I can’t use
But I want you
The first line, “I want you,” is a clear declaration of the singer’s desire and yearning for the person she’s singing about. It sets the tone for the entire verse.
The metaphorical lines, “I hold one card/That I can’t use,” suggest that the singer has a limited opportunity in her situation. Because of the slim chance, the singer feels unable to take action.
She struggles with internal conflicts because she still wants the person so much. This is evidenced by the final line, “But I want you.”
[Pre-Chorus]
You’re coming back
And it’s the end of the world
We’re starting over
And I love you, darling
And I am done, dear
In the Pre-Chorus, Mitski sets the stage for a significant emotional moment in the song. The return of the person the singer loves is portrayed as a momentous event.
She employs the phrase “And it’s the end of the world” to emphasize the emotional impact of her lover’s return. It appears to her as if the world is ending, which demonstrates a heightened sense of drama and intensity.
The line “We’re starting over” implies that with the person’s return, there’s an opportunity for a fresh beginning or a reset in their relationship. The singer immediately declares “And I love you, darling,” because her feelings are strong and affectionate.
The following line “And I am done, dear” can be interpreted in different ways. It could mean that the singer has resolved to move on or that her emotional pain has finally disappeared with her lover’s return. The use of “dear” conveys a sense of intimacy.
[Chorus]
You’re in the house
And I am here in the car
I just need a quiet place
Where I can scream
How I love you
In the song, the singer starts by saying, “You’re in the house, and I am here in the car.” This means she’s in the car while her lover is in the house, which makes their reunion a bit strange to some people.
Luckily, Mitski explains further, singing, “I just need a quiet place/Where I can scream/How I love you.” This suggests that she needs a private space to express her intense feelings of love, which can be overwhelming.
It could be because her emotions are so strong that she’s afraid of showing her love openly, as it might scare her lover away. So, she needs a place where she can freely and passionately let out her emotions without holding back.
[Verse 2]
I found you
I found the door
But when I stepped through
There was no floor
In Verse 2, Mitski explores the idea that while the singer may have made progress in reuniting with her lover, she ultimately encounters a sense of emptiness or futility.
The lines “I found you/I found the door” suggest that the singer has found her lover and discovered the way to reach him.
However, the following lines “But when I stepped through/There was no floor” suggest there’s no stable foundation or support when the singer takes a step forward. This disrupts her expected outcome of a perfect reunion.
[Outro]
I want you
I want you
In the Outro, the phrase “I want you” is repeated twice. This reinforces the singer’s longing, making it clear that her desire remains unchanged.
Deeper Meaning Behind “I Want You”
“I Want You” by Mitski is a song about a relationship on the verge of falling apart. The song tells the sad story of a one-sided love.
In the song, the singer tries hard to make the relationship work, but without support, it eventually comes to an end. The singer repeatedly says “I want you” to convey the frustration of attempting to reunite with her lover.
In the song, the singer holds onto a metaphorical card as a last attempt to save the relationship, even though she knows it probably won’t work. Yet, there’s suddenly a glimmer of hope when her beloved returns.
However, there’s also a clear divide between the two characters, one inside a house and the other stuck in a car, struggling to communicate their love in silence.
The repeated phrase “I want you” emphasizes the singer’s strong desire and inner turmoil as the relationship faces inevitable failure.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.