Flu Game
Fall Out Boy
The Loneliness of Unrequited Love in 'Flu Game'
Fall Out Boy's song 'Flu Game' delves into the emotional turmoil of unrequited love and the loneliness that accompanies it. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone who feels like just another face in the crowd, struggling with the pain of being unnoticed by the person they care about. The line 'Oh God, kinda please would you kill me now?' starkly captures the depth of this emotional suffering, highlighting the desperation and longing that permeate the song.
The recurring theme of dreams and memories, as seen in 'Last night I dreamt I still knew you,' underscores the lingering attachment to a past relationship. The protagonist has carved out a place in the world for two, but it remains empty without the other person. This metaphor poignantly illustrates the void left by the absence of a loved one, emphasizing the sense of incompleteness and isolation.
The chorus, 'I've got all this love I've got to keep to myself, all this effort to make it look effortless,' speaks to the internal struggle of concealing one's true feelings. The effort to appear unaffected and composed is a common coping mechanism, yet it only adds to the emotional burden. The song also touches on the inevitability of being forgotten, as expressed in 'One day no one will remember me when they look back,' which adds a layer of existential angst to the narrative. The references to Mike Tyson and Van Gogh suggest a blend of strength and vulnerability, further enriching the song's emotional complexity.