Never Yours

I can't belive no one has commented on this song!

I love it, it is so amazing. To me, I see alot of themes of things like arranged marriage, like the following of orders, but not giving over a part of yourself, never being truley "theirs"

I am probably seeing very random parts of it, and no one probably agree's with me, but I don't mind.

This is how I like to imagine the story.

A well-bred woman fell in love young with someone who was considered inappropriate for her. She gave herself to her love, but her family pushes her into courtship with another suitor, pressured by his greater wealth. He traps her by putting financial pressure on her family by gambling with her male relatives in what he knows is for them a losing game.

I really like the idea of a suitor who's been in love with her from the start, but who doesn't know how to convince her to love him back and in return is forced to pressure her into a forced hand. He keeps himself detached as he pursues her, her lack of interest making him cold and bitter.

And then when she's finally "all his", after all he's done to try to force her to be his, she hates him. He's alienated himself through his treatment of her. Whether in the future he shows her tenderness or the same, bitter brutality as before, she's lost to him forever.

yummyindietunes, Is really close to my interpretation and I got really happy to see it written down here 17 years ago after fully listening to the song as deep as I could. But my interpretation added some to his. So I believe the song is strongly presenting different ways to view the specific phrase “I’ve been a lot of things but never yours”

A general establishment of the phrase. As a recollection to a memory of a bad prom night. The gossip from it, This is a night that I believe she was emotionally and physically raped by someone. Who I also think was a highschool crush

-The first part: Recalling the grandness of the night coming, Wanting this night to happen, Her dad even leading her to the door. She can’t help but having the feeling all night she’s getting a cold shoulder. Disinterest. Ultimately realising her feelings of sorrow and loneliness, Rejection and her reality “I’ve been a lot of things. But never yours”

-The second part: A self assured facade to cover pain. The feeling of appalled irony in her lines all in an attempt to maintain a tough composure, Almost like she was disgusted saying it “I let you hold me, Trying to kiss me on the dancehall floor” basically ensuring him “I’ve been a lot of things. But never yours.”

I feel this might be a stretch… But, I feel like it switches perspectives to the other person in the exchange after this.

-The third: He explains he did it all for a bet. It was all a lie and he needed the money, so the line continues, he equated his manipulation that day to that of “a game of pool or cards” following up casually for why he does it “I repay my families debt”, he didn’t care what they did that night… “I let you lie beside me, With no remorse” and so he rubs it in, I’m not quite sure if also to reluctantly assure her, almost apologetically “I’ve been a lot of things, But never yours.”

Another spin that I have is that it still continues from his point of view after that verse and it’s as if these lines, that were hers at the beginning are now his at the end, and this is his song too. I have a strong feeling if this is would be true, It would be enforcing an idea that maybe he too might’ve had a crush on her, And how he repays his families debts and the bet that was made was that he couldn’t sleep with her. He threw himself under the bus for the sake of his family

I can't belive no one has commented on this song!

I love it, it is so amazing. To me, I see alot of themes of things like arranged marriage, like the following of orders, but not giving over a part of yourself, never being truley "theirs"

I am probably seeing very random parts of it, and no one probably agree's with me, but I don't mind.

I think that's an intresting take on this AlohaRose. But it makes sense especially with the lines "So you say you won It was a bet A game of pool or cards I repay my family's dept I let you lie beside me With no remorse" It's a sad song. A lot of her songs are sad.

this song shows an emptiness. she has so many other problems (fast car talks about family issues too) that she cant really be SOMEONES because you have to be wholly yours first. the fact that she writes "you never cross my mind, you can be sure" is ironic: shes writing a song about it. its that facade of strength that keeps her HERS, without letting anyone in. Shes saying "never yours" in two ways: 1.) shes showing her 'strength' that no one can ever own her. 2.) shes showing her sadness, that she really hasnt been his and she wishes she had the capacity to be.

To yummyindietunes: Your explanation was perfect. This song is amazing...and just like you said it shows her strength and sadness.

its like an arranged marriage and shes with him because shes got to be "I repay my familys debt" but she will never be his

Absolutely love this song, I think its about a reluctance to let go and experience emotional intimacy. She might've been round the block a few times and have a reputation for being a bit of a whore but she's empowered by the fact that her promiscuity isn't accompanied by a willingness to belong to someone emotionally. Agree with yummyindietunes though, there is a sad undertone like maybe she'd quite like all the emotional ties too.

I've never seen this song as anything but the story of a young woman, raped at the prom by the son of a family friend that had made a bet that he could bed her at the prom.

After being raped, she may have gained a reputation as a whore because of his subsequent boasting, or he could have called her such during a confrontation at some point.

To me, the arranged marriage idea doesn't work because the relationship is a past tense situation, and this is not a happy song, at all.