Tongue

In 'Tongue,' Malibu State delves into the raw and painful emotions of unrequited love. The song opens with a sense of disappointment and longing, as the narrator laments the lack of reciprocation from their partner. The line 'No light when I ask you, that's a shame' sets the tone for the emotional void the narrator feels. This void is further emphasized by the metaphor of 'tripping over my own tongue,' suggesting the difficulty in expressing feelings when they are not returned. The use of 'Lie!' punctuates the frustration and self-deception involved in holding onto a one-sided relationship.

The chorus reveals the crux of the narrator's anguish: the realization that their partner was never truly in love. 'You made it so obvious that you're not in love' is a stark acknowledgment of the emotional disconnect. The repetition of this line underscores the painful clarity of the situation. The metaphor of desire as an illness that 'chokes' the narrator adds a layer of intensity to the emotional struggle, highlighting how unrequited love can feel suffocating and all-consuming.

As the song progresses, the narrator reflects on the fleeting nature of love and the numbness that follows its loss. 'Love has been and gone and now I'm numb' captures the aftermath of emotional investment in a relationship that was never mutual. The imagery of 'rolling down into the wildest dream' and 'sending my soul downstream' suggests a sense of surrender and loss of control, as the narrator is carried away by the currents of their unfulfilled desires. The song closes with a reiteration of the painful truth: the partner never cared, and the love was never real. This haunting realization leaves the narrator grappling with the remnants of a love that was never meant to be.