Meaning of "Keep What You Have Built Up Here" by Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate)

The lyrics of "Keep What You Have Built Up Here" by Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate) convey a complex mix of emotions, primarily centered around feelings of betrayal and hurt caused by someone close. The speaker initially expresses shock and disappointment at the realization that the person they trusted has deceived them. They are filled with anger and a desire for revenge, imagining tearing the other person's heart out as a form of retribution for the pain they've caused. However, as the song progresses, the speaker begins to understand that words alone cannot expose the true nature of the betrayer. The repeated mention of taking words out of the speaker's mouth symbolizes how the manipulative individual has twisted the truth and made the speaker doubt their own thoughts and feelings. Ultimately, the speaker experiences a shift in perspective and almost feels pity towards the person who has wronged them, realizing that vengeance will not provide true satisfaction. The song's culmination with the line "I almost pity you now" signifies a sense of acceptance and forgiveness, despite the hurtful actions of the other person.