Checkmate
Bag Raiders feat. Benjamin Joseph Lyrics
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We make out, this is the way we are
Looking into each other's eyes
How can we be so apart?
And I have a sort it's feeling this way
Never thought we'd be so far off track
And I know there's never one to blame
And we've gone too far to turn back
Keeping those secrets from my heart
Ohh Ahh Ahh
It's a checkmate
We just don't know it
And now it all seems so black and white
And there's no way to make it right
Ohh Ahh Ahh
It's a checkmate
We just don't know it now
Look at a strip teal wall
Sinking below the grass
How can we let it go so easy
Give it our very best
We thought that it would be so different
Always promised to avoid the black
And I know there's never one to blame
And we've gone too far to turn back
It was so easy at the start
Keeping those secrets from my heart
Ohh Ahh Ahh
It's a checkmate
We just don't know it
And now it all seems so black and white
And there's no way to make it right
Ohh Ahh Ahh
It's a checkmate
We just don't know it now
Getting tired to fall
I think we're getting closer
We touch
But I start sinking
We've been playing games too long
I think that this could be the end
Of our love
It was so easy at the start
Keeping those secrets from my heart
Ohh Ahh Ahh
It's a checkmate
And now it all seems so black and white
And there's no way to make it right
Ohh Ahh Ahh
It's a checkmate
It was so easy at the start
Keeping those secrets from my heart
Ohh Ahh Ahh
It's a checkmate
We just don't know it
And now it all seems so black and white
And there's no way to make it right
Ohh Ahh Ahh
It's a checkmate
We just don't know it now
Bag Raiders feat. Benjamin Joseph's song Checkmate is a melancholic reflection on a couple's failed relationship. The opening lines of the song, "Passage is marking time, we make out, this is the way we are, looking into each other's eyes, how can we be so apart?" set the emotional tone for the entire song. The couple has reached a point of stagnation, feeling distant and disconnected from each other. The following line, "And I have a sort it's feeling this way, never thought we'd be so far off track," conveys regret, and the realization that things have gone awry. The singer acknowledges that there's no one person to blame, and the relationship has reached a point of no return.
The lyrics continued to describe the feeling of disappointment in themselves for not keeping their promise to avoid negativity, frustrations, and conflict with each other. They got tired of playing games too long and sinking in desperation at the end. The song closes with a repeated chorus of "It's a checkmate, we just don't know it now." The phrase "checkmate" is a chess term used when a player has no more moves, and their king is about to be taken, which translates to the song's realization by the couple who have reached an inevitable end.
Overall, Checkmate is a surprisingly relatable depiction of a relationship that has run its course. The lyrics capture the complexity of failed connections, and they encourage listeners to reflect on their own experiences of love and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Passage is marking time
Things are progressing slowly and without much change
We make out, this is the way we are
We are trying to accept the things that make us different
Looking into each other's eyes
We are trying to connect on a deeper level
How can we be so apart?
Despite our effort to connect, we still feel isolated from each other
And I have a sort it's feeling this way
I have a sense that something is not right
Never thought we'd be so far off track
We didn't expect to be in such a difficult situation
And I know there's never one to blame
We both are responsible for the current state of our relationship
And we've gone too far to turn back
We are too invested in this relationship to simply walk away
It was so easy at the start
We were happy and things were simple in the beginning
Keeping those secrets from my heart
I hid my true feelings to keep things from becoming complicated
Ohh Ahh Ahh
Sounds without any particular meaning
It's a checkmate
Our relationship has reached a point of no return
We just don't know it
We are not yet fully aware of the gravity of our situation
And now it all seems so black and white
Things are now clearly defined and we can see the consequences of our actions
And there's no way to make it right
There's nothing we can do to reverse the damage already done to our relationship
Look at a strip teal wall
Observing a seemingly insignificant object and pondering its meaning
Sinking below the grass
Losing hope and feeling helpless
How can we let it go so easy
We gave up too easily on our relationship
Give it our very best
We didn't try as hard as we could have
We thought that it would be so different
We had high expectations that reality couldn't meet
Always promised to avoid the black
We promised to avoid the negative aspects of our relationship, but failed to do so
Getting tired to fall
We are losing the energy to continue this relationship
I think we're getting closer
We are trying to make progress in our relationship
We touch
We make physical contact
But I start sinking
Nevertheless, I still feel discouraged
We've been playing games too long
We have been engaging in unhealthy relationship habits for too long
I think that this could be the end
I am afraid that this relationship might be permanently over
Contributed by Scarlett N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.