I get why people think this song is about an abusive relationship, but I personally don’t see it that way…
I see the first and second verses as the narrator talking about a friend instead of a girlfriend, who happens to be someone he has unrequited feelings for.
Out of fear, he holds back from showing it or admitting it to her at the moment, but also has hope that it’ll happen someday. (the chorus and the bridge lyrics seem to imply that to me)
To be more specific on the first verse, I interpret it as him and that friend playfully bantering with each other as they’re drinking.
Despite being “mean” when they drink and banter, sometimes his “sweet” side or affection towards her slips out - and he wonders what it means to her whether he’s being mean or sweet, if she ever notices his feelings for her in those moments.
I get why people think this song is about an abusive relationship, but I personally don’t see it that way…
I see the first and second verses as the narrator talking about a friend instead of a girlfriend, who happens to be someone he has unrequited feelings for.
Out of fear, he holds back from showing it or admitting it to her at the moment, but also has hope that it’ll happen someday. (the chorus and the bridge lyrics seem to imply that to me)
To be more specific on the first verse, I interpret it as him and that friend playfully bantering with each other as they’re drinking.
Despite being “mean” when they drink and banter, sometimes his “sweet” side or affection towards her slips out - and he wonders what it means to her whether he’s being mean or sweet, if she ever notices his feelings for her in those moments.
[Edit: No Reason]