The first verse illustrates the physical attraction between the two, with the "taste" of the other person being felt "bubble up inside" the singer. However, they are conscious of the presence of others and the impact their actions may have on their reputations.
The pre-chorus invites the person to be with the singer in a private setting, away from prying eyes. The chorus expresses the desperation to be with the person again, offering "pinky promise kisses" as a symbol of commitment. The singer yearns to see the person "once more" to fulfill this desire.
The bridge echoes the pre-chorus, reiterating the desire to be alone with the person. The chorus is repeated again, emphasizing the longing for physical connection and the promises the singer is willing to make.
Overall, the song seems to be exploring the tension between the desire for intimacy and the need to maintain appearances in public. The singer longs for the freedom to express their feelings openly without fear of judgment or scrutiny.
Once More to See You
Mitski Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I saw the setting sun on your neck
And felt the taste of you bubble up inside me
But with everybody watching us
Our every move
We do have reputations
We keep it secret
Won't let them have it
So come inside and be with me
Alone with me
Alone
With me alone
If you would let me give you pinky promise kisses
Then I wouldn't have to scream your name
Atop of every roof in the city of my heart
If I could see you
Once more to see you
Come inside and be with me
Alone with me
Alone
With me alone
If you would let me give you pinky promise kisses
Then I wouldn't have to scream your name
Atop of every roof in the city of my heart
If I could see you
Once more to see you
If I could see you
Once more to see you
The song "Once More to See You" by Mitski is a heartfelt plea of longing and desire for someone that cannot be fully expressed or acted upon due to societal constraints. The first verse describes a moment where the singer sees the person in question in the rearview mirror with the setting sun on their neck, and is overwhelmed with emotion. However, the societal pressure of everyone watching and their reputations inhibits any action, and they keep their feelings secret. The chorus repeats the request to be alone with this person, and the desire to give them "pinky promise kisses" as a sign of affection. The repetition of "If I could see you, once more to see you" highlights the intense longing and desire for intimacy with this person.
The song has a somber and wistful tone, with melancholic guitar and vocals that capture the depth of emotion expressed in the lyrics. It speaks to the difficulty of expressing desires and emotions that don't fit into societal norms, and the pain of unrequited love.
Line by Line Meaning
In the rearview mirror
Looking back into the past
I saw the setting sun on your neck
I remember the way the sun set on you
And felt the taste of you bubble up inside me
The memory of you excites me
But with everybody watching us
We are being watched, and we care about how we look to others
Our every move
We are hyper aware of how we are perceived, so we censor ourselves
We do have reputations
We have images to uphold in public, and we don't want to ruin them by being careless
We keep it secret
We don't want others to know about our intimate moments, so we keep them hidden
Won't let them have it
We refuse to let others dictate or judge our private lives
So come inside and be with me
Let's be together in privacy
Alone with me
Just the two of us, with no one else around
Alone
Just us, with no distractions or inhibitions
If you would let me give you pinky promise kisses
I want to share a childlike promise of love with you
Then I wouldn't have to scream your name
I wouldn't have to act out publicly to show my affection for you
Atop of every roof in the city of my heart
I wouldn't have to shout to the world how I feel about you
If I could see you
If only we could be together again, seeing each other with no barriers
Once more to see you
One more time, without any restrictions or judgments, just to see you and be with you
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mitsuki Laycock
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ладно-ц2о
In the rear view mirror
I saw the setting sun on your neck
And felt the taste of you bubble up inside me
But with everybody watching us
Our every move
We do have reputations
Will you keep it secret
Won't let them have it
So come inside and be with me
Alone with me
Alone with me
Alone
If you would let me give you pinky promise kisses
Then I wouldn't have to scream your name atop of every roof in the city of my heart
If I could see you
Once more to see you
Come inside and be with me
Alone with me
Alone with me
Alone
If you would let me give you pinky promise kisses
Then I wouldn't have to scream your name atop of every roof in the city of my heart
If I could see you
Once more to see you
If I could see you
Once more to see you
@blep1114
Another one of my favs, this song showcases what I like about Mitski: she's talented in writing condensed pop songs that aptly express emotional longing for someone.
I couldn't help but read the lyrics as queer-coded, especially when she sang:
"But with everybody watching us
We do have reputation
We keep it secret
Won't let them have it"
As someone who lives in a homophobic country, I can relate to the lyrics, because they remind me of the countless times I am forced to love someone in silent, hidden away from the public's watchful eyes because we have reputation to keep.
Of course, you can also interpret it as talking about forbidden love in general. But that's the power of art right? Art can be interpreted in any way as one pleases, just like Mitski's songs.
@deadlynayeon
In the rearview mirror, I saw the setting sun on your neck
And felt the taste of you bubble up inside me
But with everybody watching us, our every move
We do have reputations
We keep it secret
Won't let them have it
So come inside and be with me, alone with me
Alone, with me alone
If you would let me give you pinky promise kisses
Then I wouldn't have to scream your name
Atop of every roof in the city of my heart
If I could see you
Once more to see you
Come inside and be with me, alone with me
Alone, with me alone
If you would let me give you pinky promise kisses
Then I wouldn't have to scream your name
Atop of every roof in the city of my heart
If I could see you
Once more to see you
If I could see you
Once more to see you.
@nlowerx
Literally cried at "but with everybody watching us, our every move, we do have reputations, we keep it secret, won't let them have it"
@cykes8089
me 2
@vema27
I literally don’t know how many times i cried when she says “Then i wouldn’t have to scream your name”. It hits different
@FreakLilBitchAntonia
LITERALLY "atop of every roof in the city of my heart" fucking sobbing bro
@massimopomoli824
FR
@johannamontana6131
Skibidi toilet❤❤❤❤❤❤😅😅😅😅😅
@strxwberrypuff
@@johannamontana6131bro.😭
@samaIRL
mm no one laughed @@johannamontana6131
@iwishtobekind
MITSKI YOU DONT EVEN KNOW HOW MUCH THIS SONG MEANS TO ME!!! THANK YOU FOR CHANGING MY LIFE
@SRM30
Relax