The meaning of A Pearl by Mitski

The song 'A Pearl' is a profound piece by the talented American indie-rock singer-songwriter Mitski. Released as a track on her groundbreaking fifth studio album 'Be the Cowboy', the song tells a haunting narrative of unrequited love and longing, wrapped up beautifully in the metaphor of a pearl.

Mitski's 'A Pearl' paints a picture of a person so engrossed and enamored by a lost love that they can't see their life without that person. The relationship might be over, but the narrator holds onto the memories like a pearl in their pocket. This holds a double meaning, as a pearl is formed from a single grain of sand, wrapped in layers upon layers of nacre, just like the way this lost love seems to shape and define the life of the narrator.

The first verse of the song sets the mood: "You're growing older, and I'm growing old with her / Hidden in the mother-of-pearl, in the oyster of the world / You found me / You found me / You found me," Mitski sings. This could suggest how the narrator feels like they were discovered, loved, and cherished like a precious gem, and now this value is lost.

As the song progresses, the repetitive line "But I fell in love with a war / Nobody told me it ended" reinforces the idea of the narrator's unending battle with themselves. Love is often described as a battlefield, and Mitski seems to have been fighting a one-sided battle that she thought was love. This loop of self-assertion and disappointment mirrors the end to a toxic relationship that one can't help but revisit, much like how a pearl is created through the constant irritation of a grain of sand.

Additionally, the repeated line "You're the love of my life / Oh god, I miss you" shows the desperation and sadness in the narrator's voice as they can't let go of the past. Their love for this person has blinded them so much that they continue to see this person as the 'love of their life', despite being aware of the toxicity of their relationship. Ultimately, the song suggests that the love that once brought joy and happiness now only brings pain and sorrow.

In 'A Pearl,' Mitski showcases her profound songwriting skills, using the metaphor of a pearl to represent the beauty, pain, and complexity of an unhealthy relationship. Through her melancholic melodies and heart-tugging lyrics, Mitski invites listeners to empathize with her character and perhaps see some of their stories reflected. The song can be seen not only as a tale of unrequited love but also as a commentary on how we, as individuals, tend to hold onto fragments of our past relationships, nesting them inside our hearts like pearls.