Meaning of "Please Just Stay Dead" by Nicole Dollanganger

The lyrics of "Please Just Stay Dead" by Nicole Dollanganger delve into complex emotions surrounding loss, grief, and the difficulty of letting go. The speaker uses the metaphor of burying pets to illustrate the pain of losing something cherished and the internal conflict of whether to hold on or release. The act of wrapping a loved one in yarn and grass, embalming with milk, and laying to rest in a makeshift coffin conveys a sense of trying to preserve what is lost, unable to fully let go. The references to wild fires consuming the speaker's thoughts, trying to smoke out or burn the memories alive, suggest the intense internal struggle to move on from a toxic relationship. The juxtaposition of the living room memorial without a name reflects the idea of unspoken pain and unresolved emotions. The speaker's wearing of homemade tattoos and enduring the pain of cigarette burns symbolizes the lasting impact of the past relationship and the deep emotional wounds left behind. Overall, the lyrics of "Please Just Stay Dead" capture the conflicted feelings of love, hate, longing, and resentment that come with trying to release someone who has caused pain and damage.