I discovered Mitski in her fourth album "Puberty 2". Anyone else who was looking for new releases in 2016 would have heard about her. With this album and the next one she gained recognition from the music press. I'm not her biggest fan and I think she doesn't have a LP with no skips but I have a few of her songs in my "No matter how much time passes you are a hit" playlist.
Mitski
"Your best American girl"
2016 · Puberty 2About the song
Probably her best single. She is half-Japanese and during her childhood she lived in several countries. This song is about loving someone who comes from a very different background than you. Mitski feels she doesn't fit into the other person's world — culturally, in terms of family and where she comes from.
Vocabulary · Idioms · Phrasal Verbs
metaphoric
spooning
The act of lying close together with both people facing the same direction, so that their bodies fit together like stacked spoons. It is an affectionate or cozy position, often used for cuddling or sleeping with a partner.
We were spooning on the couch.
In the song Big spoon — the person on the outside, who wraps their arms around the other from behind. Little spoon — the person on the inside.
adverb
forevermore
For all time in the future, forever and always. It's a more formal, poetic, or old-fashioned way of saying "forever".
They promised to love each other forevermore.
Note: "forevermore" sounds more literary or dramatic than "forever." You'll see it a lot in stories, songs, poetry, or solemn phrases. In everyday speech, people just say forever.
adverb adjective
ahead
In front, further forward in space or time; making progress or in a leading position.
The car ahead of us stopped suddenly.
We have a long week ahead.
go ahead -> proceed (go ahead, ask your question)
ahead of time -> early (we finished ahead of time)
get ahead -> progress (she works hard to get ahead)
look ahead -> plan for the future (Instead of worrying about the past, try to look ahead)
Note: "ahead" works for space and time. It often pairs with of → ahead of (in front of / before)
verb
raised me (raise)
infinitive raise past raised
regular
To care for and bring up a child until they grow up; to nurture and educate them.
She raised three kids on her own.
Note: Raise has many other meanings depending on the object.
verb noun
regret
infinitive regret past regretted
regular
(verb) To feel sad or sorry about something you did or didn't do. (noun) The feeling of being sorry about something.
(verb) I regret not studying harder at school.
(noun) She looked back on her decision with regret.
Note: "regret" is about wishing the past had been different.
idiom
couldn't help (can)
To be unable to stop yourself from doing something, even if you try; the action happens without your control. In other words, you do something automatically or instinctively, and you cannot prevent it.
She can't help feeling nervous before exams.
I couldn't help laughing when he fell off the chair.
Note: Can't / Couldn't help + ing
Watch
"Nobody"
2018 · Be the cowboyAbout the song
Feeling lonely? The song is about deep loneliness and the desperate wish for human connection, give me a hug please. Mitski went on Genius to explain the meaning of the song, you can watch it next.
Genius is a website where you can find lyrics of all the artists in the world, everything is there, the key thing is the users can make notes on the verses explaining what that means, adding references or linking to anything the artist has said about it. It's pretty cool. It's the best way to find good lyrics, other platforms (Spotify, Apple Music...) I think they are now using AI to transcribe the lyrics and many times are wrong, just so you're aware, be careful. Sometimes (rarely) the artist themselves writes an annotation, awesome. There is also a Genius app for your mobile that will show you the lyrics when you play a song. Fantastic.
Vocabulary · Idioms · Phrasal Verbs
tricky
Did its people want too much too?
'Too much' referring to quantity and 'too' means 'also'.
In the song She wonders if Venus once had population and they died because they loved too much, so they consumed all their resources and the planet went KAPUT (global warming).
noun verb
pity
infinitive pity past pitied
regular
(noun) a feeling of sadness or sympathy for someone's suffering. (verb) to feel sorry for someone.
I don't want your pity
I pity anyone who has to work with him
Watch
In the last video she is wearing a t-shirt of "Loved", an LP by the band Ken Mode which makes noise-rock, post-hardcore and sludge. We'll dive into them in an advanced post.
"Where's my phone"
2026 · Nothing's about to happened to meAbout the song
Asking "where is my phone?" is like asking "where am I?"
Vocabulary · Idioms · Phrasal Verbs
noun verb
ditch
infinitive ditch past ditched
regular
(noun) A long, narrow channel dug into the ground, usually at the side of a road or field, to hold or drain water. (verb) to get rid of something or someone you no longer want; to abandon a person; or to skip something you're supposed to attend.
(noun)The car slid off the road and into a ditch.
(noun) They dug a ditch to drain the rainwater from the field.
(verb) She ditched her old phone and bought a new one.
(verb) They ditched the plan because it was too expensive.
(verb) My date ditched me at the restaurant.
(verb) They ditched class to go to the beach.
Note: So calling someone a ditch is a metaphor, it's not actually a common insult.
idiom
at every turn
At every step; constantly, again and again, at every possible moment.
The project faced problems at every turn.
She supported me at every turn during the hard times.
noun
block
An area of buildings surrounded by streets.
I live just two blocks from here.
verb
melt
infinitive melt past melted
regular
To change from solid to liquid because of heat.
The ice is melting.
metaphoric
clear glass
Transparent glass with nothing inside it.
In the song In the song it's a metaphor for an empty, peaceful mind — Mitski wishes her head were like clear glass: transparent, clean, with no thoughts or pain inside. It connects with the later image of "clear wax," repeating the idea of an empty, quiet mind.
noun
wax
A solid substance made from fats or oils that melts when heated, used to make candles. When it melts it becomes a clear liquid.
The candle's wax dripped onto the table.
She watched the wax melt slowly around the flame.
In the song It connects with the earlier image of "clear glass", repeating the idea of an empty, quiet mind.
noun
dome
A rounded roof or ceiling, shaped like the top half of a ball.
The cathedral has a beautiful golden dome.
Snow covered the dome of the old building.
In the song Here, 'dome' works on two levels: the rounded pool of melted wax at the top of a candle, and — in slang — a person's head. Her mind becomes clear, melted wax: empty and still.
Watch
Hope you liked the songs and learned some English and remember to
stay tuned-in -- see ya on the next one.
/g 08/06/26