Terrible Love

The National's song 'Terrible Love' delves into the complexities and struggles of a tumultuous relationship. The repeated phrase 'It's a terrible love and I'm walking with spiders' evokes a sense of entanglement and discomfort, suggesting that the relationship is fraught with anxiety and unease. The metaphor of 'walking with spiders' paints a vivid picture of the protagonist's emotional state, where every step feels precarious and fraught with potential pain. This imagery is further reinforced by the repetition of the line, emphasizing the inescapable nature of these feelings.

The lyrics also touch on themes of insomnia and anxiety, as seen in the lines 'And I can't fall asleep without a little help / It takes a while to settle down / My shivered bones / Until the panic sets.' Here, the protagonist's inability to find peace and rest without external aid highlights the depth of their emotional distress. The phrase 'shivered bones' conveys a sense of vulnerability and fragility, while 'the panic sets' indicates a looming sense of dread that is ever-present.

The refrain 'It takes an ocean not to break' serves as a powerful metaphor for the immense effort required to maintain composure and not succumb to emotional breakdown. The ocean symbolizes vastness and depth, suggesting that the protagonist's struggle is both profound and overwhelming. The mention of 'quiet company' throughout the song hints at a sense of isolation, where the protagonist is surrounded by their own thoughts and feelings, unable to escape the quiet torment of their mind. The refusal to 'follow you into the rabbit hole' signifies a moment of self-preservation, where the protagonist recognizes the need to distance themselves from further emotional harm, despite the initial intention to stay.