an embarrassingly in-depth lyrical analysis of mitski's "i bet on losing dogs" 💔

i've looped this song all day i am so qualified for this

I think we all bet on losing dogs. If you don’t know what I mean by that you maybe haven’t listened to this earth-shattering song before (in which case, go do that right now), or you maybe just don’t have the same interpretation of the song as me (in which case, keep reading so you can explore different perspectives on the same piece of art; I swear it’s so fun).

As a certified Mitski enjoyer, I will be analysing the lyrics of I Bet on Losing Dogs. This is just my interpretation of the song, and I don’t think that there’s really a “correct” interpretation for almost any piece of art or music, so by all means, interpret this song however you want.

Hope you enjoy!

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My baby, my baby

The song opens with a very tender line, with the speaker calling someone their “baby,” in a soft and melancholic tone. The word “baby” is often used as a romantic pet name, but it could also be used to refer to an actual baby, like a parent singing to their child. Using the word “my,” specifically, creates a sense of intimacy that could still be used for either situation. Whether the speaker is referring to a lover, a child, or just someone who is really close to them, you can tell from the opening line they they love this person, intimately and softly.

You're my baby, say it to me

This line can almost feel desperate, with the imperative “say it to me,” as if the speaker is begging for confirmation that this person is truly their “baby.” It could also just be the speaker calmly wanting a casual reassurance of their love. It’s oddly demanding and possessive for such a soft intimate tone, because the speaker is deciding something for their subject: “You’re my baby.” The baby does not exactly get a choice in this matter. I read these lines as the speaker being slightly insecure and unsure about the subject’s love for them, and wanting reassurance.

Baby, my baby
Tell your baby that I'm your baby

The next line almost repeats the first line, though without the first “my,” making the pet name sound a bit more casual rather than intimately possessive. The line after that is a bit more interesting, mirroring the second line. The first half of this line (“Tell your baby”) is slightly similar to the second half of the second line (“say it to me”), but in reverse. “Tell your baby” implies that perhaps the speaker’s subject loves someone else more than the speaker, possibly another romantic partner. The second half of this line (“I’m your baby”) is a complete reversal of the first half of line 2 (“You’re my baby”). Rather than the speaker getting the subject to validate the speaker’s own love for them, they are now trying desperately to get the subject to admit that they love the speaker just as much, that the speaker is their baby. Because someone new has entered the subject’s life, the speaker is now even more insecure about their love being fully reciprocated, because they know that the subject calls someone else “baby.”

I bet on losing dogs

The “losing dogs” are a metaphor. To me, it seems like a metaphor for a failing relationship, a hopeless love. The speaker is gambling, “betting,” even though they know their love will not win in the end. They are chasing something that they know will be fruitless. The fact that these are “dogs” specifically is important too. Dogs are known for being loyal, adding an extra layer to the metaphor — the speaker’s love is loyal. It’s also slightly unclear in this line whether the dogs are racing or fighting, whether the speaker’s love is struggling to catch up to the subject’s other romantic relationship or it is fighting for a place in the subject’s heart.

I know they're losing and I'll pay for my place by the ring

The phrase “I know they’re losing” really takes this metaphor to the next level for me. Because not only is the speaker gambling on a lost cause, they are gambling on what they know is a lost cause. Why are they betting then? Maybe because they can’t let go of their love, their loyal love that perhaps comforted and held them despite its flaws. “I’ll pay for my place” also adds more texture to the extended metaphor because it implies that the speaker is sacrificing something because of how much they bet on their hopeless relationship. They are being harmed by it. Because of the mention of the “ring” we can assume that the losing dogs are probably fighting, an act that seems so much more vulnerable, more determined, more raw.

Where I'll be looking in their eyes when they're down

This line creates a feeling of sympathy. The speaker recognises themself in the losing dogs, in the hopeless love, and they are trying to offer some comfort. This makes it seem like the speaker isn’t betting on them for sport or entertainment, but because they pity the dogs and want to give the doomed animals some hope, a reassurance that someone cares. Because if the speaker has some hope for their relationship, they have hope for their own self as well.

I'll be there on their side

I'm losing by their side

Like the previous line, this line shows the speaker’s sympathy for their dogs, being “there on their side” because of their companionship for the dogs. The idea of “losing by their side” shows that not only is the speaker’s love failing, the speaker themself is being negatively affected by the situation. They are sacrificing parts of themself for a relationship that they know is going to fail, destroying themself along with their love.

Will you let me, baby, lose on losing dogs?

In the first chorus of the song (from “I bet on losing dogs” to “I’m losing by their side”), the speaker doesn’t refer to the subject of the first few lines in the second person, simply allowing themself to feel without worrying about what their “baby” might think. That changes in this line. In this line, the speaker is begging for permission to pursue this relationship. “Will you let me” implies that the subject still has some influence in the speaker’s decision. They refer to the subject as “baby” again, perhaps trying to remind the subject of their love and intimacy. They are no longer even “betting” on the dogs, leaving the relationship to chance; they are asking to “lose” on losing dogs. They know that this is a lost cause, they know they will lose if they pursue this relationship, and yet they still can’t let go.

I know they're losing and I pay for my place by the ring
Where I'll be looking in their eyes when they're down
I wanna feel it

The next two lines, unlike the first and last lines of the second chorus, are a repetition of the first chorus, reinforcing the idea that the speaker still has some hope for this relationship, despite knowing it is doomed. The line “I wanna feel it,” in contrast, is completely different from the rest of the song. It’s not talking about the losing dogs anymore. It’s pure yearning for emotion, not filtered through metaphors. The reason the speaker wants to pursue this hopeless relationship is because they just want to feel something. They would rather feel heartbreak than emptiness. They would rather feel sympathy for losing dogs than nothing at all.

I bet on losing dogs
I always want you when I'm finally fine

“I bet on losing dogs” is repeated again, without the speaker asking for permission from the subject anymore. They do seem to refer to the subject in the next line though, however they could also be referring to the dogs, the relationship itself. “I always want you when I’m finally fine” shows that the speaker keeps coming back to the toxicity of the relationship and their baby, even when they finally heal. The word “always” implies they are continuously pursuing the relationship. This line also reinforces the metaphor of betting. Betting is strongly associated with addiction, and this line seems to be comparing the speaker’s endless pursuit of their love to a gambler who keeps losing money betting on dogs even when they’re in a good place in their life. They are addicted to this relationship and they want it, knowing it won’t help them.

How you'd be over me looking in my eyes when I come

Here’s the thing about this line: I don’t know if it’s “come” or “cum.” On the official audio of the song on Mitski’s YouTube, the description says it’s “come” so that’s what I wrote down for this line. But “cum” feels like it makes more sense? I’m going to talk about both of the interpretations though, because this is a very interesting line. It mirrors the line “Where I'll be looking in their eyes when they're down,” this time putting the speaker in the position of the losing dog and the subject in the position of the speaker. The reversal is interesting because in the previous line, the word “down” seemed to be more metaphorical, like the dogs were simply feeling down, unmotivated. This line, however, creates an idea of inferiority. The subject is “over,” the speaker, literally above them and leaving them in the position of a dog, hinting at the subject’s mistreatment of and control over the speaker. If the line is actually meant to be “when I come,” it might be referring to the speaker coming back to the relationship time and time again, only to continuously be met with the subject’s control over them. If it’s meant to be “cum,” that adds sexual themes to the song, and the relationship, perhaps hinting that the speaker keeps coming back to their partner for love, while their partner only wants them for sex, only really “looking in [the speaker’s] eyes” when the speaker is fulfilling their sexual desire.

Someone to watch me die
Someone to watch me die

These next two lines showcase the speaker’s yearning to just have someone who they can love. They don’t want to die alone; they want someone to watch them. It reinforces the fact that the reason they pursue this relationship is because they want to feel something, to have someone. The phrase “watch me die” is interesting because it implies passivity. The speaker doesn’t even want someone who will love them and be there for them until they die, only someone to watch them, without putting in the effort to care for them. The line is repeated, highlighting the hopeless desperation felt throughout the song. It’s repeated because the speaker is tired of betting, tired of losing. They just want someone to be with, even if that person doesn’t love them very much.

I bet on losing dogs (Did you get that?)

The last lyric is “I bet on losing dogs” again, enforcing the overall theme of risking everything on something that is doomed to fail. The “Did you get that?” part isn’t technically a lyric in the song. It’s something that Mitski said in the recording studio after performing, and I included it here because I love the fact that it’s kept in the song. I actually didn’t even hear this part until I was looking up the lyrics when I started writing this. It fully encapsulates the raw, human vulnerability present throughout the song.

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I think we all bet on losing dogs. We all have moments where we chase after what we know is a lost cause, even if it will hurt us. We are all so desperate for someone or something to love and sometimes, we risk everything for it.

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Thank you so much for reading this!! It really means the world to me that you took the time to read my writing. Share your own interpretation of the song in the comments and please consider reading my other Mitski lyric analysis posts if you liked this one!