Mixed Signals
The Night Café Lyrics

The Night Café's "Mixed Signals" is a song about regret, heartbreak, and the consequences of words left unsaid. The song's lyrics express the internal turmoil of a person who has let a relationship slip away. The opening lines indicate that the singer feels that they have gone too far and that they need to let go, illustrating a sense of irreversible damage. The follow-up line, "I didn't think that I didn't need you," shows that the person had been emotionally careless, perhaps taking the relationship for granted, and that they now see the error of their ways. The chorus emphasizes the singer's sense of loss as they repeatedly lament not realizing how much they needed the other person until it was too late.

The song's second verse expands on the singer's sense of regret and nostalgia. The lyrics describe the present as being emptier and lonelier since the other person has moved on. The singer is left smoking a cigarette in a dark room, contemplating the implications of their actions. The line "you went and changed and you didn't need me" implies that the other person's change was not mutual, which adds to the singer's sense of confusion and loss. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the regret once again, while the final lines express acceptance – the other person is not mine, but the singer's need for them now feels stronger than ever.