Affection

Black Sea Dahu's song 'Affection' delves deep into the complexities of love, trauma, and emotional vulnerability. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone who has turned themselves 'inside out' in an effort to connect with their partner, only to find that their efforts go unnoticed. The use of 'warpaint' and calming 'the winds of your trauma' suggests a battle-like scenario where the singer is trying to soothe their partner's emotional wounds. This imagery sets the stage for a relationship where boundaries blur, and the lines between self and other become indistinct, raising questions about where one person ends and the other begins.

The song continues to explore the theme of emotional disorientation, with the singer wandering 'in the fog' and grappling with the paranoia that 'everyone's out to get you.' This sense of confusion is compounded by the partner's actions, which push the singer away, leaving them to 'read into every word' and get lost in their partner's eyes. The imagery of 'shiny Sunday symmetries' cracking the singer's composure and 'wild roots' making them fall over further emphasizes the instability and emotional turmoil they are experiencing. The recurring question, 'Are you falling out of love?' underscores the uncertainty and fear of losing the emotional connection they have worked so hard to maintain.

In the latter part of the song, the singer expresses a desire to hold their partner's fear as their own, highlighting a deep sense of empathy and a longing for mutual support. However, this desire is tinged with a sense of futility, as the singer feels they are 'misreading the clouds' and have grown accustomed to things going wrong. The final lines reveal a poignant self-awareness, acknowledging their own flaws and tendency to find solace in 'every broken one I pass.' This admission adds a layer of complexity to the song, suggesting that the singer's own emotional wounds may be influencing their attraction to similarly broken individuals.