Ghosting

Secret Rivals' song 'Ghosting' delves into the emotional turmoil and lingering pain of a relationship that has ended but continues to haunt both parties involved. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the aftermath of a breakup, where the passage of time has done little to heal the wounds. The opening lines, 'Nobody puts nights around here / It’s been worse since the summer’s passed,' set a melancholic tone, suggesting that the end of the relationship has left a void that is felt more acutely as time goes on. The imagery of 'tears frozen over' and 'fears all flooding back' conveys a sense of emotional paralysis and the resurgence of anxieties that were once kept at bay.

The recurring phrase 'Make a fist / We ghost this / We don’t exist' serves as a powerful metaphor for the act of emotionally shutting down and attempting to erase the existence of the relationship from their lives. This line captures the essence of 'ghosting'—the act of cutting off all communication without explanation—as a means of coping with the pain. The repetition of this phrase throughout the song emphasizes the struggle to move on and the desire to disappear from each other's lives completely.

The lyrics also touch on the feelings of guilt and responsibility that often accompany the end of a relationship. The lines 'I feel horrible, your heart’s broken, I feel responsible' highlight the internal conflict and remorse felt by the narrator. Despite the passage of time, the emotional scars remain, making it 'hard enough to bear without your tears' and 'hard enough to care after so many years.' The song poignantly captures the essence of two 'lost souls who refuse to just quit,' illustrating the difficulty of letting go and the enduring impact of a broken relationship.