Smoke

Tender's song 'Smoke' delves into the complexities and ephemeral nature of love, using vivid metaphors and emotional imagery to convey the struggle of holding onto something intangible. The lyrics open with the line 'Playing with fire, As the room fills up with smoke,' immediately setting the stage for a relationship that is both dangerous and consuming. The fire represents passion and desire, while the smoke symbolizes the confusion and obscurity that often accompany intense emotions. The singer's 'burning desire to fix what isn't broke' suggests a compulsion to perfect something that may already be inherently flawed, highlighting the futility and frustration inherent in such efforts.

The recurring theme of 'smoke and mirrors' throughout the song underscores the idea of illusion and deception. The singer feels misled, thinking they 'found a friend' only to realize it was a mirage, a trick of the light. This sense of betrayal is compounded by the realization that their efforts and emotions are 'all on me for you,' indicating a one-sided investment in the relationship. Despite the pain and disillusionment, the singer admits, 'I wouldn't change a thing,' suggesting a deep, albeit painful, attachment to the experience.

The chorus, 'Loving you is like holding smoke,' encapsulates the central metaphor of the song. Smoke is elusive, impossible to grasp, and dissipates quickly, much like the love the singer is trying to hold onto. The 'anchor on my soul' and 'fear of death running through my bones' evoke a sense of being weighed down and haunted by the relationship, yet there is also a 'cool wind' that offers a semblance of relief or new beginnings. This duality captures the bittersweet nature of love—its ability to both uplift and devastate, to be both a source of comfort and a cause of anguish.