This Way

Ni / Co's song 'This Way' delves into the complex interplay between love and anxiety. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone who is deeply in love but is also plagued by insecurities and fears of abandonment. The opening lines, 'I can be a little bit anxious / All up in my head it’s dangerous,' set the tone for the emotional turbulence that follows. The protagonist acknowledges their partner's good intentions but can't shake the feeling that 'all good things they fall,' highlighting a deep-seated fear of loss and impermanence.

The chorus reveals a self-protective instinct: 'Guess I’m the first one running / Hands up! If I’m being honest / I just can’t watch you let me go.' This line captures the internal conflict of wanting to stay but feeling compelled to leave to avoid potential heartbreak. The protagonist's anxiety manifests as a preemptive strike against the pain they anticipate, even if it means sabotaging their own happiness. This theme is further emphasized with the line, 'How long, will I do this to me? / Won’t stay at the risk of it ending,' which underscores the cyclical nature of their self-doubt and fear.

Despite these anxieties, there is a glimmer of hope and understanding in the relationship. The lyrics, 'The way you love me makes it all make sense / You came and filled in all of my pages,' suggest that the partner's love provides a sense of completeness and clarity. However, the protagonist's nervousness and feelings of unworthiness ('Tell myself I don’t deserve this / My imperfections would agree') continue to cast a shadow over their happiness. This duality of feeling both loved and unworthy creates a poignant tension that many listeners can relate to, making 'This Way' a deeply emotional and resonant song.