[Verse 1]
In my mind, you are an old empty apartment
Sitting on your mother's table, next to you, is her
Carving out our names into each piece of wood and concrete
Told her I don't have a lot, babe, but you can have my soul
[Chorus]
Baby, do you want me?
Baby, do you want me?
Baby, do you want me?
No, no, no
[Verse 2]
In your mind, this is some new and glorious morning
And you ain't ever gonna let nobody take that light again
Everyone I know is slowly falling in the ocean
I don't want to be the next to row, I never learned to swim
[Chorus]
Baby, do you love me?
Baby, do you love me?
Baby, do you love me?
No, no, no
[Verse 3]
In my mind, you are the road I chose to travel
Might as well have been the very last thing I decide
Half the time I'm lost, afraid that you're just borrowed
It don't matter much to me, man, I'm not afraid to die
[Chorus]
You're the one I wanted, want now, want when I am old
You're the one I wanted, want now, want when I am old
[Outro]
The speaker sees everyone around them getting married, but doesn’t know if he wants to do so himself because he’s not sure he’s ready.
These lyrics potentially serve as a plea to someone to be their when they die. This song constantly references death and dying. In the song the Narrator says that they are “not afraid to die” but this lyrics could be using falling as a metaphor for dying. This could be saying the Narrator has a fear of dying alone as the start of the song the mistake, on their previous project states “I don’t want to die alone, Please tell me there is another option for me”
His partner sees marriage as this dawn to a better life of stability and happiness.
This line could be talking about how the person is like an “old empty apartment” in the sense that they are familiar to the narrator but are “empty” as a person. Or it could be that they are mature now and are ready to fill the apartment with the Narrator
Retrospective to the previous verses, he now realizes he always wanted his partner and he’s asking for forgiveness and love in spite of his uncertainty.
Something young people do—putting initials in trees and sidewalks.
He is afraid that he doesn’t “own” his partner – like the old Valentine’s Day cards – “Will you be mine?” – but instead the relationship might be temporary (borrowed).
“Borrowed” in this instance could also be expressing the fear of one’s partner dying.