To Forgive

The Smashing Pumpkins' song 'To Forgive' delves deep into the themes of regret, loss, and the struggle with self-forgiveness. The lyrics paint a picture of a person who is grappling with their past and the emotional baggage that comes with it. The opening lines, 'Ten times removed, I forget about where it all began,' suggest a sense of disconnection from one's origins and a feeling of being lost. The phrase 'Bastard son of a bastard son' hints at a troubled lineage and a sense of inherited pain and confusion.

The recurring line 'Holding back the fool again' speaks to the internal struggle of trying to suppress one's mistakes and foolish actions. The protagonist admits to 'forgetting to forgive,' indicating a deep-seated inability to let go of past wrongs, both those committed by and against them. This inability to forgive leads to a sense of numbness, as expressed in the line 'I feel nothing.' The song's melancholic tone is further emphasized by the mention of 'empty party afternoons,' symbolizing missed opportunities and unfulfilled moments of joy.

The repetition of 'I knew my loss before I even learned to speak' underscores a profound sense of predestined sorrow. The protagonist is aware of their losses and mistakes from a very young age, which shapes their outlook on life. The song's conclusion, with the lines 'I forget to forgive me, I forget to forgive, you see,' highlights the central theme of self-forgiveness. The protagonist's journey is one of recognizing their flaws and the importance of forgiving oneself to move forward. 'To Forgive' is a poignant exploration of the human condition, capturing the pain of holding onto past grievances and the liberation that comes with letting go.