The Symbolism Of Russ's Song 'Goodbye'

Russ’s song “Goodbye” has symbolism in the way Russ describes the story of him having a girl he was in love with comes to find out that she is cheating on him and with multiple people since she is a prostitute calling her a “not-so-loyal, faithful, or pleasant ex-girlfriend.” (Lucas G). Russ takes the audience on a stream of consciousness ride through a psychological lense into his mind going through this break up. Within “Goodbye” Russ is telling the story of his unexpected breakup that has caused him lots of pain and this song is setting up telling the whole world of what she did to him.
Starting with the first scene of the music video Russ is seen looking over a city wearing all black, but the first voice we hear isn’t his it’s a voice

He compares himself to a King and her to supposedly being her queen but she is acting so low that he compares her to a peasant. While sitting on the bed he is sitting on the color of royalty in the music video and looks almost bewildered that anyone of high class could act so low when he could have given her the world. He must have had expectations that since they were together she would say that give up all of her past dudes. He then throws out a names like Paul and Paula, he using names to start to give an image and face to this story he is singing about. In literature when the characters are unknown it lets the reader decide who the unknown nameless is but within this Russ wants to put a specific face with the cheater and her other lovers. Then staring into the camera and using his hands and pointing straight at the camera as if we were the antagonist he speaks of Paul thinking of loving Paula but really he is being controlled by “pussy power” saying that she threw it at anyone you were just the catch of the day. Using those words show that Russ has no respect for this girl that he is subjecting her to these words. Now Russ is standing like he standing up to the guys that Paula has been messing around with while he was in the picture and saying that they aren’t anything cause all they all fell for the same girl. He standing up points specifically at the camera and rats on the guys saying she has them on a leash until they find someone better and they will be gone again. He’s specifically shaking his head and smirking now when he is in a profile up close picture and his dancing turns into more celebratory moves. The head shakes from outside the city turn more into thrilling moves of excitement with each second