A Burning Hill

Mitski takes the listener on an emotional journey of self-introspection and acceptance. The white button-down serves as a metaphor for wanting to be seen as unblemished despite inner turmoil. We begin in a state of weariness, with the narrator expressing a sense of being 'finally worn,' indicating a long battle with desire that has reached its pinnacle. Mitski's lyrics oscillate between the realization of self-infliction, being both 'the fire and the forest,' and the observer of the destruction. This duality suggests a complex emotional state where the narrator acknowledges responsibility for their chaos.

The chorus introduces a somber resignation. Mitski characterizes herself as a detached observer — 'a witness watching it' — amid the valleys of life; her emotional landscape is a scorching blaze yet is also strangely absent of the person who may have ignited the fire. It's an echo of solitude within the devastation, hinting at an underlying feeling of abandonment.

In a quiet resolution, Mitski refocuses on life's smaller, perhaps previously overlooked joys. The verse ‘I'll go to work, and I'll go to sleep, and I'll love the littler things’ paints a picture of attempting to find contentment through routine and simplicity. It is a humble attempt to heal, to cling to the tangible elements of everyday life that promise no grandeur but offer tranquility.

The outro, a gentle reiteration of embracing smaller comforts, serves as a tender reminder of the potential happiness in simple existence. This acknowledgment operates as a soothing balm over the previous stanzas of internal conflict and represents a step towards recovery and acceptance. The emotional journey concludes on a note of bittersweet acceptance, where the little things become a safe haven from the flames of past desires.