The song "I Missed It" by Harvey Danger is about missed opportunities and the regret that comes with them. The lyrics tell the stories of different moments in the protagonist's life where they had a chance to achieve something, but they either didn't take it or didn't fully understand what was being offered to them. The first verse describes a former lover who had both mediocre artistic talent and a fascinating intellect. The protagonist didn't understand when she asked him about monogamy, which could suggest that his lack of emotional intelligence led to the end of their relationship, and he regrets not being able to fully appreciate her. The second verse discusses a missed career opportunity. The protagonist had a position in the senior executive suite with a secretary, but missed out on advancing due to not understanding "we have other plans." This could suggest that he was unable to recognize that he was in danger of losing his job or that he didn't take the job seriously enough to secure his position. The chorus expresses the regret and pain that comes with missed opportunities. The protagonist got close to achieving what he wanted, but ultimately missed the mark, whether it was due to resistance, indecisiveness, or poor judgment. The third verse discusses the protagonist's tendency to rely on his charm, intelligence, and good looks to get by in life. He was a dilettante, meaning he dabbled in various arts and sciences without truly mastering any of them. He was asked about his experience as a dilettante, and although he knew the answer was not favorable, he refused to admit it. The final chorus reiterates the pain and regret of missed opportunities. The protagonist insisted on doing things his way, even if it meant missing out on life-changing events. Now, he looks back on those missed opportunities with sadness, realizing that those days are gone and can't be reclaimed.
