Reciprocity

"Ex-Factor" tells the story of a woman struggling to stay in a relationship with an unappreciative and inconsiderate lover. Without the care, attention and appreciation she deserves, the speaker is constantly trying to find ways to ameliorate the feelings of loneliness and abandonment she experiences. The song begins with the speaker's view on her relationship; that things could "all be so simple" yet, her lover tends to "make it hard". For our speaker "loving. . .is like a battle", and both her and her partner "end up with scars". In my eyes, the first stanza of the song is wrapped around emotional frustration. As the song progresses the speaker's tone of voice and re-use of phrases gives me the impression that she is realizing the needed route she has never looked for. She is understanding that she has tried so hard to hold on to this person who doesn't show any want to be held onto any longer. He never gave her the attention and care she needed, and never made up for it; and now he is dramatically becoming her Ex-Factor.

It could all be so simple                        Listen to the song here: http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/search?q=ex-factor
But you'd rather make it hard                          
Loving you is like a battle
And we both end up with scars
Tell me, who I have to be
To get some reciprocity
See no one loves you more than me
And no one ever will

Is this just a silly game?
That forces you to act this way
Forces you to scream my name
Then pretend that you can't stay
Tell me, who I have to be
To get some reciprocity
See no one loves you more than me
And no one ever will

No matter how I think we grow
You always seem to let me know
It ain't workin'
It ain't workin'
It ain't workin'
And when I try to walk away
You'd hurt yourself to make me stay
This is crazy
This is crazy
This is crazy
This is crazy

I keep letting you back in
How can I explain myself?
As painful as this thing has been
I just can't be with no one else
See I know what we've got to do
You let go and I'll let go too
'Cause no one's hurt me more than you
And no one ever will

No matter how I think we grow
You always seem to let me know
It ain't workin'
It ain't workin'
It ain't workin'
It ain't workin'
And when I try to walk away
You'd hurt yourself to make me stay
This is crazy
This is crazy
This is crazy
This is crazy

Care for me, care for me
I know you care for me
There for me, there for me
Said, "You'd be there for me"
Cry for me, cry for me
You said, "You'd die for me"
Give to me, give to me
Why won't you live for me?

Care for me, care for me
You said, "You care for me"
There for me, there for me
Said, "You'd be there for me"
Cry for me, cry for me
You said, "You'd die for me"
Give to me, give to me
Why won't you live for me?

Care for me, care for me
You said, "You care for me"
There for me, there for me
Said, "You'd be there for me"
Cry for me, cry for me
You said, "You'd die for me"
Give to me, give to me
Why won't you live for me?

Care for me, care for me
You said, "You care for me"
There for me, there for me
Said, "You'd be there for me"
Give to me, give to me
Why won't you live for me?
Cry for me, cry for me
You said, "You'd die for me"

Care, care, care
(Where were you)
Give
(When I needed you)
Care, care, cry
Give

Where were you
When I needed you
Where were you
You you you
Do do do