Thief

Ansel Elgort’s song 'Thief' delves into the psyche of a self-proclaimed heartbreaker, someone who acknowledges his destructive tendencies in relationships. The recurring metaphor of theft is central to the song, with Elgort likening himself to a thief who steals hearts and leaves them shattered. This imagery is powerful, evoking a sense of betrayal and emotional devastation. The lyrics 'Call me a thief / There's been a robbery / I left with her heart / Tore it apart / Made no apologies' encapsulate this theme, highlighting the singer's awareness of his actions and his lack of remorse.

The song paints a vivid picture of a man living a nocturnal, hedonistic lifestyle, moving from one fleeting romance to another. Lines like 'I've been living in the darkness / Shadows in my apartment, heartless' and 'Lips hit you like a drive by, frost bite' suggest a cold, detached approach to love. The use of darkness and coldness as metaphors underscores the emotional void and the transient nature of his relationships. The repetition of 'Next page and I'm out again' further emphasizes his pattern of moving on without looking back, leaving a trail of broken hearts in his wake.

Despite the seemingly callous nature of the protagonist, there is an underlying sense of self-awareness and perhaps even self-loathing. The lines 'We can be so hollow / Like my rib cage, the echoes follow' and 'All I know is that your skin bled / Like the ink dripped from my pen' reveal a deeper, more introspective side. The imagery of bleeding and ink suggests that his actions leave a lasting mark, both on himself and his partners. The repeated plea 'Girl you better just lock me up / Because I've never been good enough' hints at a desire for redemption or at least an acknowledgment of his flaws, adding a layer of complexity to the character portrayed in the song.