MKVI
Speedy Ortiz Lyrics

"MKVI" by Speedy Ortiz is a powerful and melancholic song that deals with themes of loneliness, loss, and the ways in which we cope with our pain. The song opens with the image of a donation box, emphasizing the idea of giving to others as a way of healing oneself. The lines "coats for curs and toys for tots/give hearts for ex-hearts time forgot" suggest that giving to those in need can help us forget about our own past relationships and emotional baggage. However, the following lines "vaccinate the ones you love/anesthesia so they can't feel ya/when it's time to give em up" reveal the darker side of this sentiment. The idea of vaccinating someone against our emotions, so that we don't have to feel the pain of losing them, is a stark reminder of the ways in which we distance ourselves from others as a way of protecting ourselves from heartbreak.

The second verse of the song uses the image of a "viking tower by the brook" to create a sense of ancient mystery and isolation. The line "if I'm despondent, who's at fault" suggests the singer's struggle with depression and a sense of blame for their own emotional state. The phrase "meaty hooks" hints at a sense of physical pain or self-harm, further emphasizing the singer's sense of desperation.

The chorus of the song is a repeated refrain of "medicate me, now I'm slumping/cause I've got nothing, I've got nothing/why you take and take me my friend/I've got nothing, I've got nothing/moral is you're moral-less/but you left something on my lips/a mark so sick, a mark so sick." This section of the song is particularly powerful, emphasizing the singer's feelings of emptiness and isolation, as well as their sense of betrayal by someone they trusted. The final lines of the chorus, "a mark so sick, a mark so sick" create a sense of physical pain, as if the singer is carrying a tangible wound inflicted by this betrayal.

Overall, "MKVI" is a haunting and introspective song that explores the complexities of human emotion and the ways in which we struggle to cope with our own pain. Through its dark imagery and repeated refrain, the song creates a sense of raw vulnerability and emotional honesty that is difficult not to be moved by.