Meaning of "$ting" by The Neighbourhood

The lyrics of "$ting" delve into the complexities and dissolution of a romantic relationship. The narrator begins by acknowledging their attempt to be someone they are not in order to please their partner, highlighting the strain and dishonesty present in the relationship. They express regret, emphasizing that if they had acted differently, the relationship could have taken a better course. The lyrics then shift focus to the partner, pointing out that they are not the person the narrator believed them to be. The partner's actions are described as damaging, as they would go to any lengths to bring the narrator down. The narrator feels both loved and unloved simultaneously, as their partner's actions do not align with their words. The mention of the first kiss being their partner's favorite thing implies that there was genuine affection at some point, but this is juxtaposed with the partner stating that it would sting, indicating that pain and harm were present in the relationship from the beginning. The lyrics also touch upon the potential consequences of this failed relationship on their hypothetical children, painting a bleak picture where the mother is depicted as unstable and the father lives in a dream, highlighting the dysfunctional nature of their relationship.

Ultimately, the lyrics convey a sense of being trapped and deceived in a toxic partnership. The narrator apologizes for their actions but realizes that their love for the partner was not genuine. The relationship was based on false illusions and the suppression of problems rather than facing them head-on. There is a plea not to misconstrue the lyrics as being spoken in a negative manner but rather as an honest reflection of the pain caused by the relationship.