It Is What It Is

Lifehouse's song 'It Is What It Is' delves into the emotional complexities of a relationship that has reached an impasse. The lyrics express a sense of resignation and acceptance of the situation, as the title suggests. The protagonist was initially seeking an easy way to mend the relationship, symbolized by the 'shortcut home,' but comes to realize that the issues are too intricate to be simply resolved. The repeated phrase 'it's complicated' underscores the multifaceted nature of the problems they face.

The chorus reflects a mutual acknowledgment between the partners that their efforts to salvage the relationship have been futile ('Too long we've been denying, Now we're both tired of trying'). The metaphor 'we hit a wall and we can't get over it' vividly illustrates the insurmountable obstacle they've encountered. The line 'It's water under the bridge' suggests that what has happened in the past cannot be changed, and the phrase 'I guess it is what it is' signifies a reluctant acceptance of their current reality.

The bridge of the song offers a glimmer of hope, pondering whether a reversal of time could heal the wounds and recover what was lost. However, the song ultimately circles back to the theme of acceptance, acknowledging that despite the wishful thinking, the reality remains unchanged. The song captures the emotional journey from trying to escape pain to confronting the truth of a situation, and finally, to accepting it as an unchangeable part of life.