Things I'll Never Say

Avril Lavigne's song "Things I'll Never Say" captures the internal struggle of expressing deep, romantic feelings to someone. The lyrics convey the nervousness and hesitation that come with vulnerability, particularly when one's emotions are intense and the stakes of sharing them feel high. Lavigne illustrates this through the physical manifestations of anxiety, such as tugging at hair and blushing, which are common experiences when one is trying to muster the courage to speak their heart.

The chorus of the song reveals the protagonist's fantasies and desires, from wanting to impress the person they love to imagining a proposal and marriage. However, these thoughts are kept secret, as the title suggests, because of fear and the pursuit of perfection in the eyes of the beloved. The repeated line 'I know you're worth it' emphasizes the value placed on the other person, which paradoxically increases the pressure to be perfect and thus, the difficulty in speaking openly.

The bridge of the song, 'What's wrong with my tongue? These words keep slipping away,' metaphorically describes the physical inability to articulate feelings, a common phenomenon when overwhelmed by emotion. Lavigne's portrayal of this emotional paralysis resonates with listeners who have experienced the frustration of not being able to express their true feelings. The song ends without resolution, leaving the 'things I'll never say' hanging in the air, a poignant reminder of the gap between our inner worlds and what we allow others to see.