Papercut

Liana Flores' song 'Papercut' delves into the emotional turmoil of unrequited love and the lingering pain that comes with it. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone grappling with the realization that their feelings are not reciprocated. The metaphor of a 'papercut' is particularly poignant, symbolizing a small but persistent pain that doesn't easily heal. This imagery captures the essence of the song, where the protagonist's tongue is 'papercut' from speaking the name of the person they love, indicating that even mentioning their name brings a sting of pain.

The song also explores the theme of helplessness and the struggle to move on. The lines 'Waited all day to cry / Now I'm here my eyes are dry' suggest a sense of emotional exhaustion and the futility of trying to mend something that is beyond repair. The protagonist is caught in a cycle of wanting to be needed and realizing that they are not, which adds to their sense of despair. The phrase 'My world's in your hands' underscores the vulnerability and dependency that often accompany unrequited love.

In the final verse, Flores touches on the idea of self-inflicted pain. The line 'The world can't hurt me no more / When I'm the very best at making myself sore' suggests a form of emotional self-sabotage. The protagonist has become so accustomed to their own suffering that external sources of pain no longer affect them as deeply. This introspective look at self-inflicted emotional wounds adds a layer of complexity to the song, making it not just about unrequited love but also about the ways we cope with and sometimes perpetuate our own suffering.