The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Fiction" by the artist "xx, The"

In the poem "Fiction," author xx explores the complex nature of love, loss, and the power of imagination. The lyrical hero is torn between the reality of their solitude and the fantasy of intimacy with their beloved.

The recurring phrase "It's an illusion, / That we are not together" becomes a mantra, expressing the hero's desperate desire to believe that separation is just a trick of the senses. They cling to the idea that something more profound connects them than reality allows them to see. Imagination becomes a refuge where they can be with their loved one, even if it's impossible in reality.

The hero's feelings are contradictory: they recognize the illusory nature of their fantasies ("A game of my own imagination!"), yet find solace in deception ("I succumb / To the deception of senses"). They long for closeness but fear the pain that true love might bring ("Because even if this feeling is genuine, / I will still lose you!").

The poem is permeated with a sense of loss and longing. The imagery of dawn and night symbolizes the cyclical nature of time and the inevitability of separation. The phrase "Did the dawn separate us?" emphasizes the ephemeral nature of their connection, as if the arrival of a new day dispels the illusion.

In the finale, the hero returns to their mantra, but this time, there is a hint of uncertainty. They continue to cling to hope, but the reality of loneliness becomes increasingly palpable.