Rack of His

Fiona Apple's song 'Rack of His' delves into the emotional turmoil of unreciprocated love and the feeling of being taken for granted. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a relationship where one partner is deeply invested, showering the other with affection and attention, only to be met with indifference. The opening lines, 'I gave you pictures and cards on non-holidays / And it wasn't because I was bored,' highlight the narrator's genuine efforts to express love, which are not driven by boredom but by a deep emotional connection. This sets the stage for the central theme of the song: the pain of loving someone who doesn't appreciate or reciprocate that love.

The metaphor of the 'rack of his' guitars serves as a powerful symbol of the partner's neglect. The guitars, 'lined up like eager fillies,' represent the narrator's hope and expectation for a passionate response, only to be met with disappointment. The line 'I thought you would wail on me like you wail on them, but it was just a coochie-coo-coups' underscores the disparity between the narrator's expectations and the reality of the partner's lukewarm affection. This metaphor not only emphasizes the partner's neglect but also the narrator's yearning for a deeper, more meaningful connection.

As the song progresses, the narrator reflects on their own self-worth and resilience. The lines 'And I've been used so many times / I've learned to use myself in kind' reveal a sense of self-awareness and a coping mechanism developed over time. Despite the heartache, the narrator finds solace in their ability to 'spend my time' productively, even if it means engaging in activities they aren't particularly skilled at. This resilience and self-reliance are crucial themes in the song, highlighting the narrator's journey towards self-empowerment amidst the pain of unreciprocated love.