Valentine
DIIV Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is the right side of me
Burn it down and give it up
You never wanna give it up
Medicine for free
If you'd only asked for me
I'd be a better animal
Stuck inside of me
In tragedy I'm complete
Mother father daughter son
My Valentine my only one
Keep me in distant sight
Of when it's day and when it's night
And how many weeks have passed
And if I'm still who I was last
The lyrics to DIIV's song "Valentine" speak to the internal struggle of the singer. He seems to be battling with two separate parts of himself, each with a different desire. The first two lines, "The right side of me/Is the right side of me," suggest that there is a dichotomy within him that he cannot escape. He then goes on to express a sense of hopelessness, stating that he feels like he is unable to let go of something, saying "Burn it down and give it up/You never wanna give it up."
The chorus seems to have a more positive tone, as the singer speaks of the possibility for change, saying "Medicine for free/If you'd only asked for me/I'd be a better animal/In every other little way." This suggests that he believes that something or someone can help him overcome his internal struggle and become a better version of himself.
The final verse speaks to the passage of time and the fear of losing oneself. The singer seems to want to be held accountable so that he doesn't lose sight of his self-identity, saying "Keep me in distant sight/Of when it's day and when it's night/And how many weeks have passed/And if I'm still who I was last." Overall, "Valentine" is a introspective and complex song that speaks to the duality of human nature and the possibility for change.
Line by Line Meaning
The right side of me
Referring to the singer's personal identity or sense of self
Is the right side of me
Reinforcing the previous line's focus on personal identity/sense of self
Burn it down and give it up
Suggesting a desire to abandon one's current identity or sense of self
You never wanna give it up
Acknowledging resistance or difficulty in abandoning one's identity
Medicine for free
Possibly referencing substances or experiences that can provide temporary relief from mental/emotional pain
If you'd only asked for me
Possibly implying that the singer could provide this type of relief to someone else, but they have not sought it out
I'd be a better animal
Suggesting that the singer could become more instinctual or primal, perhaps shedding aspects of their current identity/sense of self
In every other little way
Reinforcing the idea that the artist could become more animalistic or primal in every aspect of their being
Stuck inside of me
Possibly referring to unresolved emotional pain or trauma that feels trapped within the artist
In tragedy I'm complete
Suggesting that the artist finds a sense of wholeness or purpose in experiencing difficult or tragic situations
Mother father daughter son
Possibly referencing different familial relationships and their influence on the singer's identity
My Valentine my only one
Possibly referencing a romantic partner who provides support or stability in the artist's life
Keep me in distant sight
Possibly expressing a desire to maintain a certain level of emotional distance in certain relationships or experiences
Of when it's day and when it's night
Reinforcing the previous line's desire to maintain a certain level of distance or detachment
And how many weeks have passed
Possibly referencing a sense of time passing by without feeling much emotional investment or attachment
And if I'm still who I was last
Suggesting that the artist may not feel much personal growth or change, despite the passage of time
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Zachary Cole Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind