Misery Business

The lyrics tell a story of rivalry over a romantic partner. The speaker says she waited while the man was with someone else, then began a relationship with him after that relationship ended. Her feelings shift between defending her actions, boasting about “winning,” and admitting how satisfying the outcome feels. The repeated chorus makes her excitement sound confident, but also somewhat conflicted.

“Business of misery” is a playful, bitter way to describe being caught up in painful relationship drama. Calling the other woman’s figure an “hourglass” that is “ticking like a clock” links appearance with the pressure of time. The phrase “caught him by the mouth” suggests a kiss, while “got him where I want him” can mean both that the speaker has won his affection and that she feels in control. The lyrics also use “wildest dreams” to suggest a hoped-for future coming true.

The speaker presents herself as having been patient and honest, but she also seems pleased that the other woman has lost the man. Her harsh judgment of that woman sits uneasily beside her claim that she never meant to take anything away. This may be deliberate: the song can be heard as a boastful, unreliable account of a messy love triangle, rather than a fair explanation of what happened.