The lyrics of Marissa Nadler's "Leave the Light On" reflect the dark and melancholic nature of love and heartbreak. The protagonist of the song has clearly been hurt by someone she loved and trusted deeply, as shown by the last thing she said to them: "I never want to see your face again." However, despite the pain and anger, she cannot bring herself to completely give up on the possibility of reconciliation. Thus, she decides to leave the light on, in case the person in question has a change of heart and decides to come back.

The repetition of "Leave the light on" underscores the protagonist's desperation and hope that her love will return. It is a metaphor for her unwillingness to completely let go of the relationship, even though she knows it has been toxic and destructive. The lines "Change my heart and count the days/All I remember all I remember is 'we'" reveal her longing to recapture the good times they shared and forget the bad.

The lines "Things fall to pieces/Hold the reasons for another day" indicate that the protagonist is still in the process of trying to make sense of what went wrong. She is holding on to the reasons for the breakup, perhaps to avoid making the same mistakes in future relationships. However, the fact that she leaves the light on suggests that she is not quite ready to move on just yet.

Overall, Marissa Nadler's "Leave the Light On" tells a poignant story of heartbreak, hope and regret. It captures the ambivalence of love and the desire to hold on to something even when it is hurting us.