Unhand Me
Stone Gossard Lyrics

Stone Gossard’s “Unhand Me” explores the theme of a long-lasting yet dysfunctional relationship. The opening lyrics “I can't believe we're still together, Even after all these years” may suggest a couple who have been together for a while, but their love may not be as strong anymore. The reason why they remain together could be due to “civil pride,” a feeling of obligation to maintain the relationship despite the underlying issues. Gossard’s use of “selfish love that I hide” further emphasizes the idea of a couple who are hiding their true feelings from one another.

The chorus of “Unhand Me” repeats the phrase “Unhand me, unhand me, my ego” which seems to be a plea from one partner to the other to let go of their own self-interest and prioritize the relationship. This may suggest that the couple is plagued by a power dynamic that is causing issues within the relationship.

The second verse starts with “You put your keys to her aid, It doesn't sit so friendly” which could be interpreted as one partner cheating on the other. The line “I guess you can call it needle-eyed, That pointy bar just won't fly” could suggest that the cheating is causing tension, and it is not something that can be “flew over” easily.

In summary, “Unhand Me” seems to explore a couple who have been together for a long time, but issues such as power dynamics and infidelity are impacting their relationship. The repeated plea of “Unhand me, unhand me, my ego” suggests one partner needs to let go of their self-interest and prioritize the relationship.