Eliza from ELIZA is an honest image of teenage sorrow, unvarnished and raw with emotion. The lyrics paint the picture in plain enough terms, relating the tale of a young woman coming to terms with the harsh reality of lost love, in simple words to explain muddled emotions. ELIZA pulls no punches—she reveals her sorrow, bewilderment, and injustice done to her. Her lyrics portray a woman who had given freely, to be repaid with callousness and emotional games.

ELIZA remembers familiar locations in the course of the song that are tainted with painful memories. These locations that brought her happiness in the past, they’re memories that bring disillusionment to her. She invites you into her reality, mentioning mundane situations like walking with her guitar or looking out at a park. These mundane locations help make the pain less intangible and attainable. You can sense this isn’t a common broken heart—it’s the kind that tethers you, tied to a place and a memory.

There is a strength in the lyrics, also, that is quiet. ELIZA is crying, but takes responsibility for having no regrets. That is a sign of growth and courage—she is in pain, but not ashamed that she had loved so intensely. She is frank with her feelings, going so far as to envision the dead with another. It hurts her, but she does not shy away.

The repetition of the word “why” and the phrase “you make me only cry” highlights just how hurtful the situation is for her. They remind one immediately of that cyclical kind of thinking that you experience when a breakup is going on and the answers just aren’t coming your way. ELIZA’s power to put this raw emotion into lyrics is what gives the song definition. It’s a genuine and heartfelt listen that can be easily relatable to the listener, particularly young listeners.