Released: 2014
“Mess Is Mine” by Vance Joy is a folk-infused pop song that dives deep into the relatable ups and downs of a relationship. Joy capsulates the beautiful and chaotic mess that is love, expressing the synchronization of troubles between two people when they choose to be in a relationship.
The first verse of the song sets the stage for the relationship’s history with lines like “Talking like we used to do/It was always me and you.” This draws a picture of a longstanding bond between the artist and his romantic interest. The phrase “Shaping up and shipping out” is a colloquial expression used to imply their readiness to face any challenge that comes their way in the relationship.
In the lines “Do you like walking in the rain?/When you think of love, do you think of pain?” Vance seems to be asking his partner if they view their relationship as worth the mess. This suggests the idea that ‘pain’ might be an integral part of love, requires sacrifices, and isn’t always smooth sailing.
In the chorus, the phrase “Your mess is mine,” is both significant and powerful. It’s an assertion that the hardships of one are shared by both. It highlights the solidarity one feels towards another’s struggles when in a loving relationship. It’s a bold statement of commitment and acceptance of the partner’s flaws and problems.
Now moving on to the second verse, Vance paints a chaotic scene of rushing “Walking around at 8 AM/I got two hours before my flight.” Despite the rush, he acknowledges that this chaos is what makes him strong and is the reason he’s “hanging on.” Further, he introspects his own contribution to the relationship in a rhetorical question “Well, did I give enough of mine?” suggesting his awareness of the mutual give and take required in a relationship.
In the bridge, the lines “Bring me to your house and tell me/’Sorry for the mess’, hey, I don’t mind” is a metaphorical invitation into all that is messy and chaotic in his partner’s life, to which he responds that he doesn’t mind sharing that chaos.
In the end, “You’re talking in your sleep, out of time/Well, you still make sense to me, your mess is mine” signifies the acceptance of his partner’s imperfections- no matter how nonsensical or out of sync they may be, they makes sense to him, further solidifying the theme of acceptance and shared responsibility in a relationship.
Overall, “Mess Is Mine”, encapsulates the essence of a committed relationship, where each partner chooses to take on the chaos, the mess and the complexity of the other, making it equally their own.
