On November 11, 2014, indie rock artist Mitski released her third album, “Bury Me at Makeout Creek” which is full of deep-cut lyrics and enthralling instrumentation. The album explores themes of death and mortality, as well as love and its consequences, and it has remained relevant in the 10 years since its release. The album’s title refers to an episode of the Simpsons where a character says, “Bury me at Makeout Creek” as he thinks he’s dying. The album is composed of 10 tracks, all written entirely by Mitski, produced by Patrick Hyland, and released through Double Double Whammy Records.
Track 1: Texas Reznikoff
Mitski opens “Bury Me at Makeout Creek” with a short, gentle ode to a lover, referring to them as “the breeze in [her] Austin nights.” “Texas Reznikoff” is a reference to the poet Charles Reznikoff. It’s backed by soft guitar strumming until the bridge around 1:20, where the bass and various instruments come in and the song picks up a fast pace. Mitski sings in verse two;
“Texas is a land-locked state / It’s a little bit far away / From the water, from the home that I’ve wanted to make / It somehow, in the city, you make it there and you make it.”
On January 27, 2015, Mitski tweeted about this line, saying, “I’m aware that TX is not a landlocked state. There only needs to be 2 people who understand what I meant; me and the love I wrote it for.”
“Texas Reznikoff”’s lyrics are serene and the dramatic shift in instrumentation immerses you in Mitski’s passion. It’s one of the more wholesome depictions of love throughout the album.
Track 2: Townie
“Townie” focuses on falling into a cycle of self-destruction that manifests as rebellion against parental rules. The song follows the narrative of going to a house party and partaking in dangerous behaviors fueled by a motivation to find release. This chorus is repeated three times throughout the song;
“And I want a love that falls as fast / As a body from the balcony, and / I want to kiss like my heart is chasing me down / I’m holding my breath with a baseball bat / Though I don’t know what I’m waiting for / I am not gonna be what my daddy wants me to be”
Sophomore Carly Tesch shared her thoughts on the track saying, “My favorite song on the album is Townie because to me it’s about being stuck in a cycle of the same boring things and feeling desperate to do something more with your life.”
Track 3: First Love / Late Spring
“First Love / Late Spring” carries a sense of unease, emphasized by tense beats and drawn-out, focused lyrics. Mitski explained to The Cut in 2015, “When I wrote this song, I was experiencing the kind of vulnerable first love, and experiencing that kind of love [that makes] you realize how much of a weenie you are. I felt like I was in love for the first time when I was writing that song and like a kid.” The track contains imagery of nature that juxtaposes the desperation of Mitski’s feelings towards her lover. She sings in the chorus,
“Please, hurry, leave me, I can’t breathe / Please don’t say you love me / Mune ga hachikire-sōde”
With the Japanese phrase “Mune ga hachikire-sōde” or “胸がはち切れそうで” meaning, “My heart is going to burst out of my chest.” These lyrics encapsulate the uncertainty and overwhelming feelings that come with experiencing a first love, which is what the entire song conveys.
Track 4: Francis Forever
“Francis Forever” is the quintessence of Mitski’s ability to build up towards a powerful ending, with the percussion in this track creating an intense and satisfying atmosphere. The song deals with the feelings of isolation that come from dependency on a lover. It details the feeling of tying your self-worth and entire being to someone else, with lyrics such as;
“I don’t need the world to see / That I’ve been the best I can be, but / I don’t think I could stand to be / Where you don’t see me”
The track is similar to “First Love / Late Spring” in its imagery of nature and themes of all-consuming love. Its outro continues the analogy of feelings of love and the seasons;
“And autumn comes when you’re not yet done / With the summer passing by, but / I don’t think I could stand to be / Where you don’t see me.”
Track 5: I Don’t Smoke
“I Don’t Smoke” compares an addiction to smoking with an addiction to a toxic relationship. Much like someone with a nicotine addiction, Mitski is aware of the damage her lover brings her, but she just can’t quit. The track continues the album’s concept of fully giving oneself to someone regardless of the harm it brings and the conscious awareness that it is happening. The lyric, “Being with you makes the flame burn good” is repeated, with the flame likely referencing her heart and feelings, or possibly her capacity to create art, as her lover fuels her creativity. This could be a motivation as to why she repeatedly goes back to them despite the destructive nature of their relationship. Mitski offers herself fully to her partner with the lyrics;
“So if you need to be mean, be mean to me / I can take it and put it inside of me / If your hands need to break more than trinkets in your room / You can lean on my arm as you break my heart.”
Stay tuned for another article that explores the second half of Mitski’s “Bury Me at Makeout Creek”!
