Meaning of "Something I Can Never Have" by Nine Inch Nails

The lyrics of "Something I Can Never Have" by Nine Inch Nails convey a sense of longing and despair over lost love. The narrator reflects on the bittersweet memories of their past relationship, expressing how the taste of their tears and the echoes of their voice still haunt them. The lyrics paint a picture of a deep emotional connection that has been severed, leaving the narrator feeling empty and unable to find solace in sleep. They attribute their descent into a dark place to the absence of this person in their life, desperate for something that they can never attain. The longing for the unattainable reflects the universal human experience of yearning for the past and the inability to let go. The imagery of the color gray symbolizing a lack of emotion and a broken heart adds to the overall melancholic tone of the song, emphasizing the ongoing pain and longing. Despite the passage of time, the narrator still sees reminders of their past love everywhere, which serves as a painful reminder of who they used to be and the happiness they once shared. This song captures the essence of unrequited love and the struggle to move on from something that was deeply meaningful but ultimately unattainable.