To me, this piece revolves around unrequited love/affection which seems to constitute a frequent theme in Grimes' songs.
"Soft skin
You touch me within and so I know I could be human once again"
It seems as if the singer was enchanted with the newly discovered kind of intimacy, or maybe just the special, sensual connection they share with their love interest. His skin is soft; he is the person to whom she opens, around whom she is able to throw off all the conventions and appearances she normally keeps up; in their moments of tenderness and intimacy she is able to feel safe enough and close to him to free herself from some sort of numbness and impersonality (possibly a result of a trauma or bad experiences). She can feel human.
"I know you're faced with something
That could consume you completely."
She can see that there is something consuming his thoughts; he has got his issues and demons he has to face. She realises this can possibly absorb all his attention and therefore make him unavailable emotionally in the way she'd like him to be.
"Soft skin
You touch me once again and somehow it stings
'Cause I know it is the end."
Still mesmerised by the moments of sensuality they share but this time she cannot enjoy it as much; the feeling of sadness breaks through every now and then as she knows their relationship is soon and inevitably to be over.
"I hate that you're leaving
So why don't you talk to me?
You act like nothing ever happened
But it meant the world to me"
She doesn't want it to be over, she doesn't want him to leave and she feels confused and hurt - she wishes she could at least talk to him about it but he doesn't seem eager to; he seems to be able to just shake it all off and not care too much but what happened was in fact very important to the singer, probably even changed her life.
"And you can't and you can't see the wind in the trees
And you can't and you can't see the wind in the leaves
And you can't and you can't see the weight in the dark
And you can't and you can't see the weight in the heart"
Her feeling of sadness and the weight of the entire emotional package involved are somewhat in the air but yet this isn't something tangible; this isn't something they can recognise, name and talk about. He does not realise how much she hurts and she remains silent as the wind in the trees and leaves.
"Soft skin
I'll have you be near my heart,
Until I feel human"
She will keep the memory of him and their closeness in order to remember how it feels to be human: to be that close with somebody, to be that free. She will use the experience to sort herself out emotionally and know herself better.
"Soft skin
You were never a lie to begin with
So now I'm suffering"
As somebody's already mentioned, he never made any promises, he probably never wanted to hurt her; she got involved with him to her own responsibility and knowing the situation. She never explained that in fact she felt hurt. Now the weight and suffering are only hers.
To me, this piece revolves around unrequited love/affection which seems to constitute a frequent theme in Grimes' songs.
"Soft skin You touch me within and so I know I could be human once again" It seems as if the singer was enchanted with the newly discovered kind of intimacy, or maybe just the special, sensual connection they share with their love interest. His skin is soft; he is the person to whom she opens, around whom she is able to throw off all the conventions and appearances she normally keeps up; in their moments of tenderness and intimacy she is able to feel safe enough and close to him to free herself from some sort of numbness and impersonality (possibly a result of a trauma or bad experiences). She can feel human.
"I know you're faced with something That could consume you completely." She can see that there is something consuming his thoughts; he has got his issues and demons he has to face. She realises this can possibly absorb all his attention and therefore make him unavailable emotionally in the way she'd like him to be.
"Soft skin You touch me once again and somehow it stings 'Cause I know it is the end." Still mesmerised by the moments of sensuality they share but this time she cannot enjoy it as much; the feeling of sadness breaks through every now and then as she knows their relationship is soon and inevitably to be over.
"I hate that you're leaving So why don't you talk to me? You act like nothing ever happened But it meant the world to me" She doesn't want it to be over, she doesn't want him to leave and she feels confused and hurt - she wishes she could at least talk to him about it but he doesn't seem eager to; he seems to be able to just shake it all off and not care too much but what happened was in fact very important to the singer, probably even changed her life.
"And you can't and you can't see the wind in the trees And you can't and you can't see the wind in the leaves And you can't and you can't see the weight in the dark And you can't and you can't see the weight in the heart" Her feeling of sadness and the weight of the entire emotional package involved are somewhat in the air but yet this isn't something tangible; this isn't something they can recognise, name and talk about. He does not realise how much she hurts and she remains silent as the wind in the trees and leaves.
"Soft skin I'll have you be near my heart, Until I feel human" She will keep the memory of him and their closeness in order to remember how it feels to be human: to be that close with somebody, to be that free. She will use the experience to sort herself out emotionally and know herself better.
"Soft skin You were never a lie to begin with So now I'm suffering" As somebody's already mentioned, he never made any promises, he probably never wanted to hurt her; she got involved with him to her own responsibility and knowing the situation. She never explained that in fact she felt hurt. Now the weight and suffering are only hers.