The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Toothache" by the artist "Westislonely"

In the song "Toothache," Westislonely uses the metaphor of physical pain to convey the deep emotional suffering caused by an unstable and possibly one-sided relationship.

Toothache symbolizes the guilt and falseness the lyrical hero feels when lying to their loved one. This lie might be about their true feelings, fears, or desires, which they are afraid to reveal for fear of rejection. The phrase "rotten smile" emphasizes the destructive impact of this lie on the hero's personality and the relationship itself.

Heartache arises as a reaction to the beloved's apparent detachment and indifference. The gesture of "clutching your head in your hands" can be interpreted as a sign of despair, hopelessness, or an attempt to shut off. The hero suffers from a lack of attention, affection, and reciprocity, pleading for confirmation of feelings ("just tell it to my wounded soul").

The recurring phrase "You don't call me baby unless I beg you to" vividly illustrates the inequality in the relationship. The hero is ready to humiliate themselves and beg for affection just to receive a crumb of attention. The phrase "I'd break myself into pieces if only it would help me get through to you" underlines the desperate thirst for intimacy and willingness to make any sacrifice for love.

The hero doubts their beloved's feelings, comparing them to fictional stories ("If you don't love me anymore, like you did in all those stories"). They try to regain fading attention by offering new topics for conversation ("I'll write a new song") but fear that even this will elicit nothing but boredom and indifference.

The final lines of the song ("All this toothache's getting tiring, more than my smile. All this heartache's just to get you to call me for a while") emphasize the torment and self-destructiveness of this relationship. The hero realizes that their pain is just a way to get attention but can't break this vicious cycle of dependence.