The Boy Who Shot Analysis

The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot chronicles the narrator, Jesse Lacey’s, side of the conversation he’s having with his girlfriend. They are discussing the possibility of ending their relationship because he knows how much pain and suffering he’s put her through. However, as the song progresses, he slowly starts to manipulate his girlfriend into thinking that she’s the one to blame for their dissolution. The song begins with the line “If it makes you less sad,” which sets a precedent for the rest of the song, as it is repeated frequently throughout. Jesse is acknowledging that he’s hurt her, and is willing to accept the consequence of losing her if it pleases her. “I hope you find out what you want / already know what I am,” He sincerely hopes

In the next line, Jesse is subtly trying to suggest that breaking up isn’t the best idea by saying, “I’ll grow old and start acting my age / I’ll be a brand new page in a life that you hate.” He assures her that he’s going to be more mature and dependable, and treat her the way she deserves to be treated. “A crown of gold,” is a metaphor for Jesse’s self obsessed nature, and “A heart that’s harder than stone,” is a metaphor for his inability to love and care for her. He acknowledges his faults, “And it hurts a whole lot / But it’s missed when it’s gone,” but still suggests, even with all the pain and heartache he’s caused her, that she’ll still miss him if she goes through with ending their relationship. The first lines of the chorus, “Call me a safe bet / I’m betting I’m not,” references that fact that Jesse knows he is powerless to change himself, but his girl is ceaselessly roped into believing that she can trust

The next line, “So call it quits or get a grip,” sheds light on why the phrase, “If it makes you less sad…” was used; because he knows despite his flaws and faults, she has her own share of tactics that inflict pain. This line is also directly telling her to end the relationship or get it together. In the next line, Jesse kind of lashes out, saying, “Say you wanted a solution / You just wanted to be missed,” he’s done with pretending that he’s responsible for all the issues in their relationship, and accuses her of being selfish. Another way it interpreted as, is the girl threatening to kill herself, and Jesse knowing that’s not what she really wants to do, she just wants attention. The chorus repeats, then a new verse begins: “You are calm and reposed / Let your beauty unfold / Pale white, like the skin stretched over your bones.” He is observing the facade she seems to put up, composed and distinguished, but is also pointing out that she’s mortified of the thought of letting the relationship