I Like You Better When You're Not Around
Toxic Bonds: Unraveling Friendship's Secrets
Lyrics
Long, long ago in the years BC
Reflecting on a distant past in the years before Christ.
The women used to gossip while they made their tea
Women gossiping while making tea, a historical cultural reference.
It's been our method of survival, right from the start
Gossip as a survival strategy from ancient times.
But girl you've really gone and turned it into an art
The person has elevated gossiping to an art form.
After I see you I feel dirty as hell
Feeling unclean after encountering the person, as if contaminated.
Like you've contaminated me with that peculiar smell
A peculiar smell metaphorically associated with gossiping.
That comes from dishing up the dirt on all your closest friends
Accusing the person of gossiping about close friends.
"I mean like what the hell is with her, I mean, no offense"
Quoting others questioning the person's behavior.
So please don't take it to heart
Requesting distance due to the negative impact of gossip.
When I say can we start to spend time apart
Suggesting a need to spend time apart for personal well-being.
But frankly my dear
Using a classic phrase to express honesty about the friendship.
This friendship is toxic
Labeling the friendship as toxic, harmful.
Like a fox and a hound
Metaphorically comparing the friendship to a problematic pairing (fox and hound).
I like you better when you're not around
Expressing a preference for the person's absence.
Don't wanna hear about your bitchy scene
Rejecting interest in the person's negative gossip.
And I don't really care who gave who what disease
Disregarding details of who gave whom a disease, avoiding drama.
As if don't even know you say just the same about me
Questioning the person's sincerity regarding mutual gossip.
Do you really think I'm that naive?
Expressing doubt about the person's honesty and perception.
So please don't take it to heart
Reiterating the need for distance to protect oneself emotionally.
If I say can we start to spend time apart
Repeating the suggestion to spend time apart for personal well-being.
Cause frankly my dear
Reaffirming the toxicity of the friendship.
This friendship is toxic
Using a classic phrase to express honesty about the friendship.
Like a fox and a hound
Metaphorically comparing the friendship to a problematic pairing (fox and hound).
I like you better when you're not around
Expressing a preference for the person's absence.
I L-I-K-E you better when you are N-O-T around
Spelling out the preference for the person's absence.
So please don't take it to heart
Reiterating the need for distance to protect oneself emotionally.
If I say can we start to spend time apart
Repeating the suggestion to spend time apart for personal well-being.
Cause frankly my dear
Reaffirming the toxicity of the friendship.
This friendship is toxic
Using a classic phrase to express honesty about the friendship.
Like a fox and a hound
Metaphorically comparing the friendship to a problematic pairing (fox and hound).
I like you better when you're not around
Expressing a preference for the person's absence.
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