The Land Is Inhospitable, But We Are Not: An Analysis of Mitski’s Incredible Lyricism

“It’s this love I’ve created in me, that I’ve built in me, that I’ve held on to – and it’s mine for as long as I want it, for as long as I don’t give it up, or let the world take it away from me. …

On September 15, 2023, singer-songwriter Mitsuki Miyawaki — lovingly known by the alias “Mitski”—released her seventh studio album, “The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We.” Amidst the buzz of autumn, the drudging start of my junior year, and the awareness of my seventeenth birthday rapidly approaching in just two weeks, “The Land Is Inhospitable” came during a pivotal time in my life.

Since her self-released debut album “Lush” (2012), Mitski has grown tremendously as an artist and as a person. This progress is well demonstrated in “The Land Is Inhospitable.” Best known for hits such as the online sensation “My Love Mine All Mine,” or the immersive opening track “Bug Like an Angel,” Mitski’s newest album masterfully combines elements of folk, indie rock, art pop, synth pop, and alternative genres across its eleven tracks. No matter the listener’s preferences, “The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We” grants each and every person a special sensory experience, whether it’s heartache from her ballades, buzzing in your feet from blasting the album on your car’s speakers, or the refreshing catharsis after a late night cry to her gut-wrenching lyrics.

Through her haunting sound production, her tender and powerful vocals, and her layered, ambient musicality, Mitski cultivates an entirely new signature sound in “The Land Is Inhospitable,” drifting into her own version of an “Americana” style blending country, contemporary folk, and synth pop ballades. Despite this stark contrast from her earliest music she recorded on her own with a piano, Mitski’s voice remains the same, as her personal touch shines through with her lyrics more than ever. In “The Land Is Inhospitable And So Are We,” Mitski reaches out and invites us into her world. Though it may be impossible to define art, what we observe from it has the power to connect us and shape our very perspectives. That is why today, through analyzing lyrics from three songs on “The Land Is Inhospitable,” we can scratch the surface of Mitski’s important view on how valuable it truly is to be alive.

Track 1: Bug Like an Angel

Bug Like an Angel is a cleverly crafted opening song, with its strong folk-rock influence, drawling synthesizer chords, and electrifying harmonies.

The track tells the story of an alcoholic, who sees a dead bug with its wings spread out – like an angel – stuck to the bottom of their shot glass. Seeing this moth with a halo of light illuminating its crucified wings, the singer reflects on whether it is possible to leave their self-destructive habits behind and escape from the confines of theri dark mental state.

Weaving in religious symbolism, Mitski introduces a theme of humanity in contrast with divine that she builds on to express the challenge of preserving her artistic and human fulfillment while under constant scrutiny from others.

Some of my favorite lines from “Bug Like an Angel:”

_{Image credit: Genius lyrics.}_{https://genius.com/Mitski-bug-like-an-angel-lyrics}

In her journey as an artist, Mitski has frequently commented on her regret for how profiting off of her music distracts from the humanity, emotion, and overall message of her work. Understanding struggle of Mitski’s regarding her identity as an artist adds to the earnestness of this track. Creating a metaphorical connection between herself and an addict, Mitski reflects on her complicated identity as a creator.

“Bug Like an Angel” tells the story of someone who is trying to justify their self-sabotage, whether it be alcohol abuse or continuing to work senselessly through burnout. While the story literally describes an alcoholic’s addiction, it can be implied that it is semi-autobiographical, and metaphorically applies to Mitski’s struggles as an artist. The notion of “making promises you can’t keep” shows this person’s initial defeat, whether that is commitment to a relationship that fell apart, failure to overcome personal challenges, or re-indulging in self-destructive patterns.

Eventually, Mitski concludes that her struggle to keep promises (to those she loves, to her listeners, and to herself), however painful, is not a moral failing – after all, struggle is in human nature. In the line, “I try to remember the wrath of the devil/Was also given him by God,” Mitski calls back to religious symbolism from earlier in the piece, while simultaneously showing how people can find comfort their innately human imperfections. Her inability to reach her expectations of herself may cause her pain, but it doesn’t change who she is at her core. Even the incarnation of ultimate goodness created the incarnation of ultimate evil. Her successes cannot exist without her failures.

Beginning on an insightful note, Mitski sets the stage for the rest of the album: how even from the darkest place mentally, she is able to look to the light, and find hope for her future.

Listen to “Bug Like an Angel” here: https://open.spotify.com/track/45KMdPDdZTxcXW3lw10R70?si=0e239827478b4316

Track 4: I Don’t Like My Mind

“I Don’t Like My Mind” is a short track, but one that directly tackles Mitski’s relationship with herself in a clever, creative way. This one resonated with me most after a few listens.

With sound design that could be taken straight out of a western film, the layered instrumentation, swung rhythm, and pure freedom in Mitski’s voice give “I Don’t Like My Mind” a uniquely dreamlike vibe that depicts a descent into a mental spiral. However, the outcome of this spiral is actually a small, significant victory, as Mitski allows herself a moment of vulnerable moment of unbridled mess to honestly reflect on how she feels burning out in an artistic field.

This leads me to my favorite lyric, which I feel fully nails the simultaneous freedom and agony that come from relinquishing control when recovery can seem like an impossible goal:

_{Image credit: Genius lyrics}._{https://genius.com/Mitski-i-dont-like-my-mind-lyrics}

The self-explanatory piece of the scene she illustrates is the story of a person buying an entire cake and eating it on their own, in a pathetic attempt to comfort themselves and celebrate despite crippling loneliness around the holidays. Still, I find the image of someone driving to the store, buying a cake, and dividing it into slices for themselves to be a charming thought.

Within the greater context of the album, it struck me how Mitski described the setting as “an inconvenient Christmas.” Christmas, a time that is supposed to represent joy, rebirth, and light, can also be unbearably lonely, dreadful, and overwhelming, especially if the season comes intertwined with obligations and bitter memories. Despite the celebration of people around her, cold seasons are juxtaposed with Mitski’s feelings of grief and isolation after losing someone, or something, important to her. The cold weather motif appears again in songs such as “When Memories Snow” and “The Frost,” in which the winter conditions such as snow in the driveway or a frost that slowly thaws metaphorically represent her plight in processing – as well as moving on from –feelings of grief.

Though the scene is relatively straightforward, the imagery is raw, and her delivery encapsulates Mitski’s pain that she attempts to drown out with indulgence. Especially in a season such as Christmas, in which everything seems centered around togetherness and celebration, loneliness is more prevalent than ever. If one has lost people they love, or lacks the comfort of traditions, all they can do sometimes is push forward, and make find new ways to celebrate.

While Mitski’s intense shame and self-loathing at the beginning of the track elicits pity, the truth is that this is a victorious moment. By making new traditions, she is slowly reconnecting with herself. She is setting herself free from burdensome memories, by blasting loud music and refusing to give in to the noise of life. She is setting herself free by eating a whole cake, like the independent adult she is. She may be suffering, but she lives for the little things, and seeks celebration in a world that seems inhospitable.

This is the sort of resilience that we cannot take for granted or look down upon. Her determination to continue loving life gives her power, even if she cannot see it yet herself. Simply getting through the day is setting herself up for success.

Track 7: My Love, Mine All Mine

It was because of her “Behind the Song” interview in which Mitski described what the lyrics of “My Love, Mine All Mine” meant to her that I truly fell in love with this album. Seated beside a piano in a cozy practice room, Mitski speaks gently for a couple minutes about her process of writing the album. Although interviews like this one exist for many more songs on the album, this one is particularly heartwarming. If you would like to watch the interview, a link to it is attached just below.

The interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGb2p_Ep9kg

“My Love, Mine All Mine” is the embodiment of tenderness, full of care and devotion. This song is a love letter to being human.

Since going viral online, “My Love, Mine All Mine” has been covered by hundreds of musicians, including award-winning artists such as Laufey and Clairo. It has also reached online editing communities, who pair the song with their favorite characters, partners, or other loved ones. I am awestruck by Mitski’s incredible power to unite her listeners through shared human experiences, especially as she does through this song.

The end of verse 1 leading into the chorus of “My Love, Mine All Mine:”

_{Image: Genius lyrics. https://genius.com/Mitski-my-love-mine-all-mine-lyrics}

The warm soundscape of this song with low, smooth chords creates a soothing and intimate tone. Though the track is only 2 minutes and 17 seconds, Mitski’s soulful harmonies and sweet lyrics are deeply touching. This makes it no surprise that the song resonated with so many people, as Mitski’s overarching message of loving something so much she prays for her feeling to live beyond herself is depicted in this piece in a tender, beautiful way.

In “My Love, Mine All Mine,” Mitski tells the story of someone looking to the moon, overflowing with gratitude for their ability to feel love. The moon, a seemingly omnipotent planet orbiting Earth and illuminating the night sky, may be a further nod to the light highlighting the bug on the bottom of her shot glass in the beginning, a symbol of hope and direction in the most obscured circumstances.

Mitski speaks with humility in this song, humbly pleading to the heavens to protect the love that makes her life feel worth living. Love has the power to ground her, to illuminate her future, and to give her purpose, even when nothing else seems to be going well. In this way, “My Love, Mine All Mine” conveys Mitski’s realization that all physical manifestations of success will one day become meaningless. Only her humanity truly belongs to her.

There are many interpretations of “My Love, Mine All Mine” in which the subject dreams that their love will reach something or someone. Personally, I interpret this song as a love letter from Mitski to herself, one dedicated to the sheer beauty of being alive. Despite constant pressure, she finally finds peace with herself through the ability to cherish life simply for the enjoyment of it, without an objective in mind. Before she leaves this world, Mitski wants to impart her love to others, to share what has truly saved her. Against all odds, Mitski found beauty in an inhospitable place, pleading to a higher power to protect it.

From Mitski’s biography page on Spotify, Will Arbery wrote beautiful commentary on this very idea. It is pasted below, for anyone who would be interested in reading it:

_{Commentary about TLIIASAW posted on Mitski’s “about the artist”
page on Spotify, written by Will Arbery.}

Mitski is an artistic mastermind, with the success to prove it. She tours the world, earns over 35 million monthly Spotify listeners, and has a fanbase that nearly worships her. But despite everything, she is still just a person.

Celebrities are often placed on pedestals, exemplified for every action they take. Even now, it is tempting to idealize Mitski for her artistic choices, her interactions with an audience, and the many aspects of her public persona. Mitski never predicted she would achieve the acclaim she has today, and the pressure that comes with this position can be debilitating, especially towards one’s happiness and creativity. She never started her career expecting to become a celebrity – she was simply a woman fulfilled by performing and creating. At the end of the day, we must never forget the fact that an artist’s value does not come from what they create.

In this way, Mitski’s life must feel inhospitable, and even impossible at times. But despite everything, she has her humanity, and that is something nobody can take away from her.

Listen to “My Love, Mine All Mine” here: https://open.spotify.com/track/3vkCueOmm7xQDoJ17W1Pm3?si=80b90d90c4114711

Conclusion: What does this album truly mean?

To be honest, the first time I heard “The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We,” I was not a huge fan of how different the sound was from some of her earlier albums. It leaned much further into the synthesizers, deep vocals, and faux-country sounds that aren’t usually heavy notes in my music library. However, the album grew on me when I began to understand Mitski’s message.

Life is hard – it will pin you down, chase you with hounds, and display your lowest on a pedestal. Life is brutal, it is unfair, it is tragic. And this goes beyond an individual level – our world can be truly foul. Overseas in Gaza, children grieve their parents and parents grieve their children, civilian victims of unprecedented, egregious violence. In the US, gunshot wounds are the leading cause of death in children under nineteen, a result of a national epidemic of school shootings. The sea levels are rising, the smoke season is getting longer every year, and it seems that we are doing nothing to stop it. It is incredibly easy to feel demoralized when we look at every way humanity has failed.

But the thing is, life isn’t about our shame, failures, or regrets. While the world around us can feel impossibly cruel, it is important to remember that we are still here, and we are still trying. When I feel my lowest, the people I love pull me back up again.

Mitski’s love is why she makes art. Maybe love is why humanity is still surviving. I may not have all the answers, but to me, our persistence is proof that the world we have built for ourselves is hospitable, despite every awful thing we may encounter. We are creatures born to love and be loved. Maybe that can be enough. And maybe with time, we will understand.

Because it seems that life can flourish in even the most inhospitable, impossible places. There is love everywhere, if we only remember to look for it.

… And I really do believe to love is the best thing I ever did in my life, better than any song I’ve written, better than any achievement by far.” -Mitski

Thank you to the team in The Overlake Hoot club for your support during the writing process for this article. This piece has grown to be special to me, and I could not have done this topic justice without the tremendous help from my peers with editing, reading, and motivating me along the way. Congratulations to everyone on a great year of writing!

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