Keepsake
Endswell Lyrics

In the opening lines of "Keepsake," Endswell sets a tone of introspection and vulnerability, revealing an underlying sense of insecurity within a past relationship. The singer questions their significance, wondering if they were merely an "afterthought," a transient part of someone's life that was never fully embraced or cherished. The imagery of loose ends highlights a feeling of incompleteness, suggesting that the relationship was fraught with unresolved emotions and unfulfilled promises. This invites the listener to reflect on moments of kindness shared between the two individuals, drawing on nostalgia to contrast the present sense of emotional distance. The mention of going back to when they were “kinder” reveals a longing for the days when affection and consideration were more prevalent, indicating that the singer feels a deep loss of connection.

As the song progresses, the singer expresses a harrowing sense of emotional pain through vivid metaphors. The line "Step on my throat" carries a powerful weight, symbolizing a feeling of being silenced or oppressed. This violent imagery suggests that the singer is grappling with the fear of rejection, needing to choke out affirmations like "you did good," which may have been both an internal struggle and an expression of longing for validation. There's an internal conflict laid bare as the singer oscillates between a desire for recognition and an acceptance of their subservient position in the relationship dynamic. This grappling with identity presents the theme of dependency, where self-worth becomes closely tied to the other person’s acknowledgment, leading to an unsettling realization: being a source of support for someone else can often leave one feeling neglected and unvalued.

The singer delves deeper into the emotional turmoil by addressing the feeling of being a "last resort." This metaphor starkly conveys the sense of rejection and inadequacy that stem from a relationship where one feels like the fallback option rather than a priority. The juxtaposition of feeling reassured and then quickly replaced evokes a poignant sense of betrayal. The individual they yearned for failed to uphold the promise of elevation to something greater, reinforcing feelings of insignificance and loss. This line encapsulates the fragility of trust in intimate relationships, suggesting that the emotional foundations can be easily dismantled, leaving behind a narrative of heartbreak that lingers in their memories.

In the concluding lines, the singer’s plea to be treated as a "keepsake" underscores a yearning to hold on to the pieces of their shared history. The metaphor of being placed on a shelf serves a dual purpose: it highlights the desire for remembrance but also emphasizes the objectification of their affection, as if love is something to be curated and displayed rather than lived. The poignant statement "I'm only as nostalgic as you make me" implies that the singer's memories are directly tied to their significance in the past lover's life, suggesting that the act of remembering is inherently passive. Lastly, the mention of hands shaking and the contrasting steadiness of the other’s hands underscores the fragility of the singer's emotional state, hinting that the connection once provided a sense of calmness that is now absent. In this haunting conclusion, the lyrics paint a picture of love that is laced with both beauty and pain, revealing an intricate tapestry of emotions tied to personal identity and remembrance.