Crawl

Tender's song "Crawl" delves deep into the emotional turmoil of heartbreak and betrayal. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone grappling with the aftermath of a relationship gone awry. The opening lines, "Crawl back from whence you came, I don't need an ocean in between us, I just want to know I'm safe," suggest a desire for emotional security and a plea for distance from the source of pain. The protagonist is on a journey, metaphorically described as a "road paved in gold," yet this path is marred by loneliness and a sense of abandonment.

The chorus, with its repeated plea, "Won't you stay a while? And don't you hide away," underscores the desperation and longing for the lost connection. The imagery of someone "slipping from my fingers" day by day highlights the gradual and painful realization of losing a loved one. The repeated line, "I'll come crawling back to you," signifies a sense of helplessness and the inevitability of returning to the source of pain, despite the betrayal.

The second verse intensifies the feelings of betrayal and hurt. The lines, "I don't even care about what you did, It's about who you did with it," reveal the depth of the emotional wound. The protagonist feels deeply betrayed, not just by the actions but by the involvement of another person. The sense of betrayal is so profound that it leaves the protagonist hanging on by a thread, wishing they could have been the one to prevent the hurt. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the cyclical nature of the pain and the struggle to move on.

Tender's musical style, characterized by its emotive and atmospheric sound, perfectly complements the raw and vulnerable lyrics of "Crawl." The song captures the essence of heartbreak, the struggle to let go, and the painful journey of coming to terms with betrayal. It's a poignant reminder of the complexities of love and the emotional scars it can leave behind.