Faouzia – UNETHICAL. Lyrics & Meaning
Faouzia – UNETHICAL : The Agonizing Price of One-Sided Devotion
Ever felt like you’re pouring every last drop of your energy, your love, and your sanity into someone, only to receive crumbs in return? You keep bending, breaking, and excusing their behavior, thinking that surely, this time, they’ll see your worth. It’s a draining, dizzying cycle that can leave you feeling completely hollowed out. Well, there’s a song that perfectly captures this devastating feeling, transforming it into a powerful, cinematic anthem. Faouzia takes this familiar heartache and frames it with a question that will linger long after the music stops, and we’re about to unpack every layer of it.
Diving Into the Dazzling Pain of Faouzia’s “UNETHICAL”
From the very first line, Faouzia doesn’t just tell us about a bad relationship; she makes us feel it. She throws us right into the emotional whirlwind with the word “Vertigo.” It’s not just love; it’s a disorienting, confusing state of being. You’re literally dizzy in this person’s presence.
Vertigo in your arms
One second you hate me then it’s false alarm
That’s just what you always do, every time
This isn’t a stable love. It’s a rollercoaster of push-and-pull, of hot-and-cold. One moment you’re the enemy, the next, it was all a “misunderstanding.” This chaotic cycle is the foundation of the entire problem. But then comes a moment of self-awareness, a painful admission that many of us can relate to. She sings about how she might be partly to blame for putting this person on a pedestal, a place they clearly don’t deserve.
Maybe it’s my fault I put you up so high
Darling, I think you could make the devil cry
That last line is just brilliant, isn’t it? It’s not just saying “you’re mean.” It’s saying your capacity for causing pain is so immense, so profound, that you could bring even the embodiment of evil to tears. That’s some next-level emotional damage.
The Brutal Honesty of the Chorus
Just before the song’s explosive chorus, Faouzia lays out the heartbreaking reality of her situation. She’s waiting for two things that will never come: an end to the pain (the sunset) and an apology. The raw frustration in her voice is palpable when she sings:
And I’ve been waiting for the sunset
Waiting on a sorry
But you’re never sorry, are you?
No, you don’t even care
It’s that gut-punch of a realization. The person causing all this pain doesn’t just forget to apologize; they lack the basic empathy to even care. This sets the stage for the song’s core message, delivered through some of the most vivid and visceral imagery you’ll hear in a pop song.
She’s not just sad; she’s physically deconstructing herself for this person’s affection. It’s a powerful metaphor for the extreme emotional and mental gymnastics people perform to keep a toxic relationship alive.
Breaking all my bones
Tryna hold you close
Cut my heart right out my body
Tearing off my skin
Just to let you in
She’s painting a picture of someone literally destroying their own foundation (“bones”), giving away their core being (“heart”), and removing all their defenses (“skin”) just to let this person in. After describing this horrific self-sacrifice, she asks the million-dollar question:
Isn’t it a bit unethical?
Wow. She’s not just asking if it’s “wrong” or “mean.” She’s using the word “unethical,” which frames the relationship in terms of a moral code being violated. It’s like a doctor causing harm or a lawyer deceiving a client. It implies a gross misuse of power and a complete disregard for the well-being of the other person. It’s such a specific, cutting word that elevates the entire song.
The Cold Realization and the Plea for Freedom
As the song continues, the sense of desperation grows. The second verse echoes the self-blame, but with a new layer of helplessness. She’s caught, and she knows it, but she can’t seem to find the exit.
I don’t know what it is
Got me wrapped around your cold fingertips
Maybe it’s my fault I can’t walk away
Maybe I just thought you’d feel a little shame
That hope for them to feel “a little shame” is so tragically human. You believe that deep down, there must be some goodness, some remorse. But “UNETHICAL” is about the painful acceptance that sometimes, there isn’t. The “cold fingertips” imagery is perfect—it suggests a touch without warmth, a connection without any real feeling behind it.
The chorus hits again, reinforcing the pain, but the final plea is what truly defines the song’s message. It’s a moment of clarity born from absolute agony.
Tell me have I not given you enough?
If you ever loved me, let me go
This is the turning point. She’s not just asking for mercy anymore; she’s demanding release. She uses their own potential love as the key to her freedom. It’s the ultimate paradox: “If you care about me at all, the only way to prove it is to release me from this prison you’ve helped create.”
The biggest takeaway from “UNETHICAL” isn’t just about the pain of a toxic relationship. It’s about the profound importance of recognizing your own worth. The song is a journey to the realization that no person is worth dismantling yourself for. The most powerful act of love, in the end, is the one you show yourself by walking away from something that is, quite frankly, unethical.
I find the song to be an incredibly powerful narrative of hitting rock bottom and finding the strength to ask for a way out. But that’s just my take on it. What does “UNETHICAL” mean to you? Do you connect with the feeling of giving too much, or do you see a different story in the lyrics? Let’s talk about it!
