Should
Mitski Lyrics


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Well, I went through my list of friends and found
I had no one to tell
Of this overwhelming clean feeling
Strange serenity

When I saw the girl looked just like me
And it broke my heart, the lengths you went
To hold me
To get to have me, 'cause

I haven't given you what you need
You wanted me but couldn't reach me
So you went into your memory
Relived all the ways you still want me
I haven't given you what you need
You wanted me but couldn't reach me
I'm sorry, it should've been me

I'd be going 'bout my day until a hand
Would come and lift me out
And drop me in the middle of a labyrinth
Where I'd be stuck a while

When I saw the girl looked just like me
I thought, "Must be lonely lovin' someone
Tryin' to find their way out of a maze"
Oh, I know

I haven't given you what you need
You wanted me but couldn't reach me
So you went into your memory
Relived all the ways you still want me
I haven't given you what you need
You wanted me but couldn't reach me




I'm sorry, it should've been me
I'm sorry, it should've been me

Overall Meaning

In this song, Mitski muses on the idea of missed opportunities and the feelings of regret that come with it. She starts off by stating that she has no one to share her feelings with and is overwhelmed by a serene feeling that she can't quite explain. The serenity is broken when she sees a girl who looks just like her and realizes the lengths that someone went through to hold her and have her.


She then goes on to explain that the person wanted her but couldn't reach her, so they resorted to reliving old memories of her. Mitski expresses remorse for not giving the person what they needed and acknowledges that it should have been her that was in that position. She describes feelings of being stuck in a maze until someone comes to lift her out, indicating that she may have been lost or indecisive in her own life, causing her to miss out on opportunities.


Overall, the song seems to be about the feeling of sadness and regret that comes when we realize that someone is yearning for us but we can't or won't meet them halfway. It's a melancholic and introspective piece that showcases Mitski's ability to explore complex emotions in her music.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, I went through my list of friends and found
I realized that I had no one I could confide in about the intense emotions that I am feeling.


Of this overwhelming clean feeling
Despite being overwhelmed with emotions, I still feel a sense of clarity and serenity.


When I saw the girl looked just like me
I felt heartbroken when I saw someone who resembled me so closely.


And it broke my heart, the lengths you went
It hurt my heart to see how far you would go just to have me.


To hold me
You wanted to hold onto me so badly.


To get to have me, 'cause
You were willing to do almost anything to have me in your life.


I haven't given you what you need
I know that I haven't been able to provide you with what you truly need.


You wanted me but couldn't reach me
Although you wanted to be close to me, you were unable to connect with me on a deep level.


So you went into your memory
You resorted to reminiscing about the past and reliving our memories together.


Relived all the ways you still want me
You remembered all the ways in which you still desire me.


I'm sorry, it should've been me
I feel remorseful for not being able to give you what you needed and for not being the one to satisfy your desires.


I'd be going 'bout my day until a hand
I would go about my daily routine when suddenly someone or something would disrupt it.


Would come and lift me out
Something or someone would intervene and take me away from my daily routine.


And drop me in the middle of a labyrinth
I would suddenly find myself in a confusing and complex situation that was difficult to navigate.


Where I'd be stuck a while
I would feel trapped or stuck in this complex situation for some time.


I thought, "Must be lonely lovin' someone
When I saw the girl who looked like me, I couldn't help but think how lonely it must be to love someone who is hard to reach or understand.


Tryin' to find their way out of a maze"
I empathized with the struggle of wanting to be with someone who is hard to connect with.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mitsuki Laycock

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@emilia-qv2uv

Verse 1]
Well I went through my list of friends and found
I had no one to tell
Of this overwhelming clean feeling
Strange serenity

[Pre-Chorus]
When I saw the girl looked just like me
And it broke my heart, the lengths you went to hold me
To get to have me, 'cause

[Chorus]
I haven't given you what you need
You wanted me but couldn't reach me
So you went into your memory
All the ways you still want me
I haven't given you what you need
You wanted me but couldn't reach me
I'm sorry it should’ve been me

[Verse 2]
I'd be going 'bout my day, until a hand
Would come and lift me out
And drop me in the middle of a labyrinth
Where I’d be stuck a while



@elise2399

When she mentions a labyrinth in the second verse, she is referring to a labyrinth of sounds and smells, misdirection and misfortune. A labyrinth with no exit, a maze with no prize. You don't even realize that you are trapped. Your lust for blood has driven you in endless circles, chasing the cries of children in some unseen chamber, always seeming so near, yet somehow out of reach, but you will never find them. None of you will. This is where your story ends.

And to you, my brave volunteer, who somehow found this job listing not intended for you, although there was a way out planned for you, I have a feeling that's not what you want. I have a feeling that you are right where you want to be. I am remaining as well. I am nearby. This place will not be remembered, and the memory of everything that started this can finally begin to fade away. As the agony of every tragedy should.

And to you monsters trapped in the corridors, be still and give up your spirits. They don't belong to you. For most of you, I believe there is peace and perhaps more waiting for you after the smoke clears. Although, for one of you, the darkest pit of Hell has opened to swallow you whole, so don't keep the devil waiting, old friend.

My daughter, if you can hear me, I knew you would return as well. It's in your nature to protect the innocent. I'm sorry that on that day, the day you were shut out and left to die, no one was there to lift you up into their arms the way you lifted others into yours, and then, what became of you. I should have known you wouldn't be content to disappear, not my daughter. I couldn't save you then, so let me save you now. It's time to rest - for you, and for those you have carried in your arms.

This ends for all of us.

End communication.



@Yvettenwn

LYRICS:
Well, I went through my list of friends
And found I had no one to tell
Of this overwhelming clean feeling, strange serenity
When I saw the girl looked just like me
And it broke my heart
The lengths you went to hold me
To get to have me
'Cause, I haven't given you what you need
You wanted me but couldn't reach me
So you went into your memory
Relive all the ways you still want me
I haven't given you what you need
You wanted me but couldn't reach me
I'm sorry it should've been me
I'd be going 'bout my day until a hand
Would come and lift me out
And drop me in the middle of a labyrinth, where I'd be stuck a while
When I saw the girl looked just like me
I thought, "must be lonely loving someone"
Tryna to find their way out of a maze
Oh, I know
I haven't given you what you need
You wanted me but couldn't reach me
So you went into your memory
Relive all the ways you still want me
I haven't given you what you need
You wanted me but couldn't reach me
I'm sorry it should've been me
I'm sorry it should've been me



i love you MITSKI <3



@miriamakhalwaya9461

this song feels relatable on deep levels😭
Well, I went through my list of friends
And found I had no one to tell
Of this overwhelming clean feeling, strange serenity.

(It's like she's saying she could never tell her friends how her life changed into peace. And contentment.)

When I saw the girl looked just like me
( It sounds like she's talking about past herself or a friend she relates to about her past self.)
And it broke my heart
(It breaks her heart knowing what she went through what herself or this person who reminded her of herself went through.)

The lengths you went to hold me
To get to have me
( She talks about how she had to use different coping mechanisms to just reach her present self. How she had to fight her own thoughts to get where she is.)
'Cause, I haven't given you what you need
( She speaks to her past self the way one speaks to their child. Apologizing for not being there for herself the way she is with herself currently.
Perphaps she would be angry at herself for having negative thoughts and she would ill-treat herself. And constantly try to help herself too. But now she's changed and treats herself differently. Perphaps she copes differently now.)

You wanted me but couldn't reach me.

( She talks about how her past self needed her current self. A person who loves herself better, is filled with peace and contentment. Her past self wanted that but didn't get that instead her past self suffered.

Or perphaps she is refering to someone who loved her through her tough times and she was a mess to deal with. She speaks about how she wasn't her current good self for this person who loved her.)

So you went into your memory
Relive all the ways you still want me
( She is either speaking about how she used to love her old self before her sad self. Or how this person who loved past self would constantly think of the old her and not the messy her who was probably hurting her current relationship either with herself or this romantic partner she speaks of.

I haven't given you what you need
You wanted me but couldn't reach me
( She speaks about how she was someone unreachable. Even tho she was there she was stuck in her mind)

I'm sorry it should've been me
( She apologizes again for it not being her current self. Who is mentally healthy and peaceful.)

I'd be going 'bout my day until a hand
Would come and lift me out
And drop me in the middle of a labyrinth, where I'd be stuck a while

( Perhaps she lived her life normal until she got home and she would get lost in her thoughts. Where she would be stuck in those thoughts of maybe over thinking or sad thoughts,

Or she is speaking about how this person would end up making her over think because maybe they were a narcissistic partner)

When I saw the girl looked just like me
I thought, "Must be lonely loving someone"
Tryna to find their way out of a maze
( When she saw this girl who reminded her of herself she thought back on her past and how it hurt her to love either herself or being loved by someone else. She finds it was hard being loved because of her over thinking.)

Oh, I know
I haven't given you what you need
You wanted me but couldn't reach me
So you went into your memory
Relive all the ways you still want me
I haven't given you what you need
You wanted me but couldn't reach me
I'm sorry, it should've been me
I'm sorry, it should've been me

( She apologizes that she could not be the peaceful person she is today.)



All comments from YouTube:

@mitskileaks

Mitski's new album 'The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We', featuring the song "My Love Mine All Mine" is out now. Watch the music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx4kLgnFexo

Listen to the album: https://mitski.lnk.to/TLIIASAW

@Layagood

i love you so much

@patriciaelam5288

Thank you so much for the info..going to check it out now!!

@FaithWasntTaken

I love you mitksi

@Elkennedytehabla

I love you Mitski

@surup4056

IT'S DEFINITELY MY FAVORITE SONG FROM THIS ALBUM

@micaiahjohnson8181

HONESTLY

@chocolate-ish4379

SAMEE

@ymir9418

I havent listenend to all yet but so far it is too🤭

@nothing752

FR
1 - should've been me
2 - that's out lamp
3 - I guess
🛐🛐

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