Tether

CHVRCHES' song 'Tether' delves into the emotional turmoil of a relationship that is both binding and suffocating. The lyrics paint a picture of a partnership where one person feels tethered to the other, unable to break free despite the evident need to move on. The opening lines, 'Where'd you go, you were there by my side / Keep believing it's my turn to hide,' suggest a sense of abandonment and the subsequent need to retreat into oneself. This sets the stage for the recurring theme of being bound to a situation that is no longer healthy or fulfilling.

The metaphor of a 'tether' is central to the song, symbolizing the invisible yet powerful bond that keeps the narrator tied to their partner. Lines like 'Trade our places / Take no chances / Bind me 'til my lips are silent' evoke a sense of entrapment and the loss of one's voice and agency. The repeated plea to 'stay where you are' and the acknowledgment of 'chasing things that we should run from' highlight the internal conflict between the desire to hold on and the need to let go.

The song's climax, 'I feel incapable of / Seeing the end / I feel incapable of / Saying it's over,' encapsulates the emotional paralysis that often accompanies the end of a significant relationship. The imagery of being 'cold-blooded and drifting away' further emphasizes the numbness and detachment that can set in when one is unable to confront the painful reality of separation. CHVRCHES masterfully uses these lyrics to explore the complexities of love, loss, and the struggle to find closure.