We Don't Deserve Love

In my humble opinion, in terms of the lyrics, this is one of the most well written songs on Everything Now.

The author is reflecting on the deep-set, seemingly irreconcilable problems within his relationship. Although their attitudes towards life and popular culture are different, they are drawn together by an ineffable, existential connection. Rather than feel love is achievable elsewhere, they have previously convinced each other that sustainable love is irreconcilable ("we don't deserve love")

At the start of the song, the author is lost in a quagmire of popular culture. He seeks spiritual solace and fulfillment through television and music and is frustrated by his partner who sees little value in such things.

The relationship, and the author's own self-awareness, leads to deep melancholy, which he tries to stem through alcohol and (possibly) drug use.

As the song concludes, he realises that love isn't unachievable, it's simply the fact that his partner has deep-seated issues that she isn't prepared to acknowledge or resolve - "you tried to figure it out, you never figured it out".

It appears his partners' parents were constantly arguing during her formative years, which leads her to think that relationships are forever irreconcilable. This is reinforced by her religious beliefs, whereupon Mary Magdalane fruitlessly pursues Christ.

He concludes the song by encouraging her to realise the difference between fatalistic romanticism and a sustainable relationship and commit to what they have together; but we're treated to a sense that he suspects this may never happen.

I'm not sure of the author's intent. Here's what I heard...

The beginning, to me, is about a broken romantic relationship. Sometimes, when relationships end, we wonder if we'll ever find (or even deserve... because of the mistakes we've made) love.

Then, as many good songs do, it transitions to deeper more universal realities. Is 'love' even a thing?

The reference to Mary is probably the key to the song. I'd GUESS that he's talking about Mary Magdalene. She is mistakenly (though commonly) combined with an anonymous female character in Scripture who was a prostitute. So the author is using that tradition.

Prostitutes, more than anyone probably, have come to the conclusion that they don't 'deserve' real love. They're always used and left alone. This abandonment, for many, goes back to childhood.

Jesus seemingly left Mary alone by dying on the cross. So the point of the song hinges on what will happen when she rolls away that stone (blocking entrance to his tomb). Will Jesus be there (unlike all the other guys, but in a meaningless way b/c he's dead) or will he be gone (like the other guys, but in a totally different way b/c it means he's alive and able to offer never-ending love)?

I'd say the song purposefully lives in the tension of that moment (her approach to that stone) and is, therefore, as religious or anti-religious as it's listener (depends on what they think she would have found).

I find that many modern songs live in tensions like that... purposefully vague, allowing hearers to interpret from their own perspective.