Flirted With You All My Life

Vic Chesnutt's song 'Flirted With You All My Life' is a poignant exploration of the artist's complex relationship with death. The lyrics reveal a deep self-awareness and a lifelong contemplation of mortality. Chesnutt begins by acknowledging his constant awareness of death, personifying it as a companion that has been with him everywhere he goes. This personification sets the tone for the song, making death a character with whom he has had an ongoing, albeit reluctant, relationship.

The chorus, where Chesnutt repeatedly states, 'Oh death, oh death, oh death, really, I'm not ready,' underscores his ambivalence and fear. Despite having 'flirted' with death and even finding moments of peace in its proximity, he admits that he is ultimately unprepared for its finality. This sentiment is further emphasized when he recounts the loss of a friend and his mother, both of whom succumbed to death. The pain of these losses and the cruel constancy of death are palpable in his words, highlighting the emotional toll it has taken on him.

Chesnutt's reference to his mother's battle with cancer adds a deeply personal layer to the song. Her struggle and eventual surrender to death, where she begs for release, contrasts sharply with Chesnutt's own reluctance. This juxtaposition between his mother's readiness and his own unpreparedness serves to illustrate the complex and often contradictory feelings people have towards death. The song, with its raw honesty and emotional depth, invites listeners to reflect on their own mortality and the inevitable encounters with death that shape our lives.