Released: 2020
Diplo’s ‘Heartless’, featuring Morgan Wallen, is a heart-wrenching tale of unrequited love and the pain of chasing someone who’s just not that into you. It’s a classic country heartbreak song, wrapped in a modern, pop-infused package.
The chorus, ‘Why you gotta be so heartless?’ is a direct question to the woman who’s been leading him on. ‘Heartless’ here means unfeeling or uncaring. The singer feels that she’s been using him for attention, taking ‘miles from inches’, which is a way of saying she’s stretching his patience and goodwill to its limits.
The verse ‘Monday night was definitely not our night, Tuesday night was just another fight…’ describes a tumultuous week in their relationship. Each day brings a new disappointment, culminating in her leaving him on Sunday morning. The phrase ‘I should probably know this shit by now’ shows his frustration at himself for not learning from past experiences.
‘You’re so high on attention’ suggests that the woman thrives on being the center of attention, even if it means causing him pain. ‘Leave me in the darkness’ and ‘Never finished what we started’ imply that she left him hanging, without closure.
The line ‘Girl why you gotta be so in between? Loving me and leaving, leaving’ shows the singer’s confusion over her mixed signals. She’s ‘in between’ – sometimes showing him love, other times leaving him.
In essence, ‘Heartless’ is a poignant portrayal of a one-sided relationship where the singer is left questioning why he’s being treated so poorly. It’s a relatable tune for anyone who’s ever felt used or unappreciated in a relationship.
