Valentine
Fiona Apple (Lossless) Lyrics
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I sent it via pantomime
While you were watchin' someone else
I stared at you and cut myself
It's all I'll do 'cause I'm not free
A fugitive too dull too flee
I'm amorous but out of reach
I'm a tulip in a cup
I stand no chance of growing up
I've made my peace I'm dead, I'm done
I watch you live to have my fun
I root for you, I love you
You, you, you, you
I root for you, I love you
You, you, you, you
I made it to a dinner date
My teardrops seasoned every plate
I tried to dance but lost my nerve
I cramped up in the learning curve
I'm a tulip in a cup
I stand no chance of growing up
I'm resigned to sail on through
In the wake of tales of you
I root for you, I love you
You, you, you, you
I root for you, I love you
You, you, you
I root for you, I love you
You, you, you
You, you, you, you
I root for you, I love you
You, you, you
The song "Valentine" by Fiona Apple is a heart-wrenching ballad that delves into themes of unrequited love, rejection, and self-harm. The first verse sets up the narrative of the song, with the singer revealing that they have sent a valentine to the person they love, but it went unnoticed. The second line, "I sent it via pantomime" suggests that the singer did not directly declare their feelings, but rather conveyed them through subtle gestures or signs. The next line reveals that the recipient was preoccupied with someone else, which adds to the sense of rejection felt by the singer.
The chorus of the song features the repetition of the lines "I root for you, I love you / You, you, you, you." These lines serve as a poignant reminder of the singer's unrequited love and their reluctance to let go of their feelings. The second verse reveals that the singer has made it to a dinner date, but the experience has not been a pleasant one. The imagery of "teardrops seasoning every plate" suggests that the singer is in a state of emotional distress.
The most striking lines of the song are "I stared at you and cut myself / It's all I'll do 'cause I'm not free." These lines reveal the singer's struggle with self-harm and the emotional turmoil they are experiencing. The closing lines of the song, "I'm resigned to sail on through / In the wake of tales of you" suggests that the singer has come to terms with the fact that they will never be with the person they love, but the pain and memories of that unrequited love will continue to haunt them.
Line by Line Meaning
You didn't see my valentine
You didn't notice my affectionate gesture towards you
I sent it via pantomime
I expressed my feelings towards you without words
While you were watchin' someone else
You were occupied with someone else while I was showing my love for you
I stared at you and cut myself
I harm myself out of my unrequited love and obsession for you
It's all I'll do 'cause I'm not free
I am bound by my own feelings for you, preventing me from moving on
A fugitive too dull too flee
I am too afraid to escape my own emotional prison, despite wanting to
I'm amorous but out of reach
I have romantic feelings for you, but I know they will never be reciprocated
A still life drawing of a peach
I am stagnant and unable to grow, like a painting of an unchanging fruit
I'm a tulip in a cup
I have limited potential to blossom and grow due to my unrequited love for you
I stand no chance of growing up
My unreturned feelings for you prevent me from moving on and maturing
I've made my peace I'm dead, I'm done
I have accepted my fate of unrequited love and have given up on the hope of it being reciprocated
I watch you live to have my fun
I continue to observe your life from the sidelines and take some satisfaction in your successes and failures
I root for you, I love you
I support and care for you, despite the fact that my feelings will never be returned
My teardrops seasoned every plate
I cried throughout our date, infusing every dish with my sadness
I tried to dance but lost my nerve
I attempted to participate in life and move on, but my anxiety over my unrequited love caused me to falter
I cramped up in the learning curve
I struggle to learn how to live without my love for you
I'm resigned to sail on through
I have accepted my fate of unrequited love and am resigned to continue living with it
In the wake of tales of you
I am left to follow the stories of your life, always watching from afar
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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