The Bitter End
Placebo(???) Lyrics

The Bitter End by Placebo is a song with lyrics that relate to a difficult situation in a relationship. The first lines "Since we're feeling so anesthetized in our comfort zone" suggest that two people are feeling too comfortable and disconnected at the same time. The singer then follows their significant other home like they have done before, and the lyrics suggest that there is a pattern of running out of excuses or alibis. It is notable that May 2 is mentioned which may be a significant date or just a reference to the fact that it's the start of spring. This may be in contrast with the following line "reminds me of summertime on this winter's day", which implies that there are mixed emotions present in the relationship.

In the chorus, the lyrics "See you at the bitter end" are repeated twice. The bitter end could be taken as either the point at which the relationship falls apart, or alternatively a more positive resolution to a hard time. The second verse continues to show dependence on the partner and a tendency to make the same mistake over and over again. The singer feels like they are being showered with lies and has the sense of being killed off emotionally as time goes on. We then hear the line "From the time we intercepted, feels a lot like suicide", which suggests a sense of despair and anxiety resulting from the relationship. The lyrics "Slow and sad, getting sadder, arise a sitting mine" illustrate discomfort steadily intensifying, making the listener envision a gradual and ominous situation. The song ends with what is presumed to be the singer comforting their partner and saying "I love to see you run around and I can see you now, running to me, arms wide out". The line "prepare the end" could either be a sign of bittersweet goodbye, or simply the character preparing for an ultimate dark conclusion.