The song "Littlething" by Jimmy Eat World explores the feelings of longing, uncertainty, and missed opportunities in a relationship. The lyrics depict the protagonist's emotions on a night like Christmas Eve, where they find themselves alone and unable to resist the urge to reach out to someone. The protagonist looks out of their office window onto the street, contemplating whether to call and find out why they feel this way. The lyrics suggest that there is something small but significant, buried among the other things happening in their life, which is causing these intense emotions. This feeling burns from the inside, leading the protagonist to ask if the listener would stay with them on this lonely night. The song also highlights a quiet dream that the protagonist knows they shouldn't think about but is still eating away at their mind. They question if the listener could be with them tonight, perhaps implying that their presence would provide comfort and solace. In the second verse, the protagonist reflects on a cab ride where the listener remained silent and their hair covered their face. The protagonist admits being afraid to acknowledge their feelings, and as a result, nothing changed between them. They continue walking until they couldn't anymore, realizing too late that the relationship was only partially real, while the other half remained good. Overall, the song conveys a sense of longing, missed connections, and the desire for companionship. It portrays the protagonist's struggle to confront their emotions, longing for the listener to stay with them on this particular night, despite the complexities and uncertainties in their relationship.
