I Wish It Was Me

Etham's song 'I Wish It Was Me' delves deep into the painful experience of unrequited love. The lyrics tell the story of a person who has known their love interest for a long time, harboring deep feelings that have never been reciprocated in the way they desire. The song captures the heartache of watching someone you love fall for others while you remain in the background, always hoping to be the one they choose.

The recurring theme in the song is the contrast between how the protagonist is viewed by their love interest and how the love interest views their current partner. The protagonist is seen as a fallback, someone to rely on when things go wrong, but never the first choice. This is poignantly expressed in lines like 'You look at me like I’m someone you only need when it goes wrong, but you look at him like he's your missing piece.' This stark difference highlights the protagonist's longing and the emotional turmoil of feeling like they are never enough.

Etham's soulful delivery and the melancholic melody amplify the song's emotional weight. The lyrics are filled with vivid imagery and metaphors, such as 'The music fades, the lights come on, and I just want to take you home,' which symbolize moments of realization and the crushing reality of unfulfilled desires. The song resonates with anyone who has ever experienced the pain of loving someone who doesn't love them back in the same way, making it a powerful anthem for unrequited love and the heartache that accompanies it.