Give It a Name
At the Drive-In Lyrics

The song "Give It a Name" by At the Drive-In is a powerful and emotive track that delves into themes of regret, loss, and reflection. The opening lines "Never thought this day would end, walked the tired steps of latter day friends" sets the tone of the song, highlighting the feeling of exhaustion and weariness that comes with the end of a relationship. The lyrics describe a sense of closure, but one that is tinged with sadness and a yearning for what once was.

The lines "And all because your stubbornness was, smiling through your braces" suggest that the relationship came to an end due to one person's unwillingness to compromise, yet there is a sense of fondness for the memories that were shared before things fell apart. The use of the phrase "Amontillado!" in the lyrics is a reference to Edgar Allen Poe's short story "The Cask of Amontillado", where the singer lures his victim into a cellar and walls him up alive. The use of this phrase in the context of the song suggests that the relationship was suffocating and perhaps even toxic at times.

The refrain "It's not you, it's me, you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone" echoes a common sentiment in break-up culture and highlights the regret and self-blame that often accompanies the end of a relationship. The lines "Meal tickets have been refused, you gave me a reason to sing our last song" suggests that the relationship was one-sided, with one person being taken for granted and ultimately deciding to move on. The song ends with the lyric "Maybe I'll see you in twenty years", indicating that there is a sense of finality to the relationship, but also the possibility of a future reconciliation or a chance encounter.