This Mess We're In

PJ Harvey's song 'This Mess We're In' is a hauntingly beautiful track that delves into the complexities of human connection against the backdrop of an urban landscape. The song opens with the sound of helicopters, immediately setting a scene of tension and unrest. The mention of New York, a city known for its relentless pace and towering skyscrapers, further paints a picture of a chaotic environment where silence becomes a shared language between two people seeking solace in each other's presence.

The lyrics oscillate between the external chaos of the city and the internal longing for a romantic connection. Harvey's words evoke a sense of yearning and desire, as she dreams of making love to someone amidst the impossibility of their situation. The repeated line 'The city sunset over me' suggests a feeling of being overwhelmed or overshadowed by the enormity of the urban setting and the complications it brings to personal relationships. The song captures a moment of intimacy and vulnerability, where the protagonists are caught in a 'mess' that is both literal and metaphorical.

As the song progresses, there's a resignation to the fleeting nature of the encounter. The lines 'I don’t think we will meet again' and 'You must leave now' signal an impending separation, perhaps as inevitable as the sunrise that will illuminate the 'mess' they find themselves in. The song ends without resolution, leaving listeners with a poignant sense of impermanence and the bittersweet acknowledgment of a connection that cannot withstand the pressures of the external world.