Unless
Pentimento Lyrics

The lyrics of Pentimento's song Unless seem to be a reflection of someone who is coming to terms with the mistakes they have made in a relationship that has ended. The song begins with the singer staring out into a seemingly endless space, wondering what they could have done differently to make the relationship work. However, they sense that there is something their former partner is not saying, and this realization leads them to hold on to the mistakes they have made - mistakes that they feel have led to the dissolution of their relationship.

The song continues with the singer admitting that they have made mistakes repeatedly, and that they are still holding on to them. They write "this down as fact, just in case I had the chance," suggesting that they are trying to come to terms with their failures as a partner, but that hope is elusive. They add that people around them consider them a joke and that there is "good reason" for it. This self-deprecation speaks to the singer's perceived worthlessness as a partner, which they believe has led to their partner's decision to leave.

As the song progresses, the refrain "I'm holding on to all the mistakes I've made" repeats and seems to be the central theme of the song. The final lines of the song suggest that the singer's sense of self-worth has been impacted by the end of the relationship, and that they are now nothing but a "used-to-be," a "yesterday," a "memory." They reflect on how fleeting life is, and are left questioning what is worth pursuing anymore.