Photo courtesy of genius.com

Mitski’s newest synth-pop single, “Love Me More”, released on January 12, hooks listeners at San Luis Obispo High School with its relatable lyrics on obsessive love and the resulting isolation it creates.

The single is the seventh track on “Laurel Hell”, Mitski’s fourth album set to release on February 4. The song is the fourth pre-album single and follows “Heat Lightning”.

“I think this is one of the coolest parts of the song. Her analogy really helps you understand the feelings she has even if it’s not something you have experienced yourself,” said senior Colin Guan.

The song opens with lyrics addressing Mitski’s loss of her self and her identity due to this infatuation she has, singing “If I keep myself at home/ I won’t make the same mistake/ That I made for fifteen years/ I could be a new girl/ I will be a new girl.” She regrets the “mistake” she made for fifteen years, presumably chasing after someone’s affection and wishes to “be a new girl who leaves this obsession behind.

As the song moves on, Mitski elaborates on the extent of this love, describing it as an itch that she cannot scratch, suggesting that she understands how toxic it is and her “itching” is only enabling the harmful effects of her obsession.

The beat suddenly picks up as Mitski enters the chorus, and demands “I need you to love me more/ Love me more, love me more/ Love enough to fill me up/ Fill me up, fill me full up.” She is tired of chasing and just wants the person to reciprocate the same level of affection and passion she has for them.

Interestingly, some fans and critics suggest that Mitski is not actually singing about a lover or individual but is instead about something related to her music career, something she devotes herself to but might question if she gets that same sentiment back.

“Although many of Mitski’s songs are about relationships and love, I think this one breaks that norm. She did this in her last album as well, with the song Geyser which is about her relationship with writing music,” said senior Nivashini Saravanakumar.

Whether it is about music or a lover, the songs discusses a topic familiar to many of us: loving something or someone that does not return that feeling and is definitely worth a listen.