Serpents

Sharon Van Etten's song 'Serpents' delves into the emotional turmoil and psychological scars left by a toxic relationship. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of betrayal and the struggle to move past it. The opening lines, 'It was a close call / Sitting in the back of the room / With a boy you could own,' suggest a sense of vulnerability and manipulation. The 'black eye' mentioned could be a metaphor for the emotional bruises inflicted by the relationship, indicating a sense of safety that is only temporary and superficial.

The recurring motif of 'serpents in my mind' symbolizes the lingering thoughts and memories of betrayal that haunt the narrator. Serpents, often associated with deceit and danger, represent the toxic influence of the past relationship. The narrator's desire for change and the hope that 'everything changes' reflect a yearning for healing and transformation. However, there is also a sense of resignation, as the narrator acknowledges the difficulty of moving on and the possibility that the other person may never change.

The lines 'You enjoy sucking on dreams / So I will fall asleep with someone other than you' highlight the destructive nature of the relationship, where the other person feeds off the narrator's aspirations and hopes. The act of falling asleep with someone else signifies a desperate attempt to escape the emotional pain and find solace elsewhere. The song's conclusion, 'I hope he changes this time,' leaves the listener with a sense of unresolved tension, as the narrator clings to a fragile hope for change while grappling with the reality of their emotional scars.