Liv Miraldi’s Unfinished Business: Grief’s Acoustic Echoes

Liv Miraldi’s Unfinished Business is like a half-written letter found years after its intended recipient has passed.

The lyrics unfold as if Miraldi is reading aloud each line, her voice carrying the weight of words that will never reach their destination.

This track embraces the messy aftermath of loss; instead, wading into the murky waters of grief, where closure remains stubbornly out of reach.

The song’s sparse arrangement mirrors the stark reality of absence. Miraldi’s vocals, backed by a lone guitar, create an intimate atmosphere that draws listeners into her personal struggle with unresolved emotions.

As she revisits 2019, the year marked by her mentor busbee’s passing, the repetition serves as a haunting reminder of how loss can freeze time, leaving one trapped in a cycle of what-ifs and if-onlys.

Miraldi’s journey from behind-the-scenes songwriter to centre-stage artist is evident in her approach to Unfinished Business.

The raw honesty in her delivery suggests a performer who’s no longer content with crafting stories for others; she’s now compelled to tell her own.

This shift lends authenticity to lines like “So many things we were supposed to do / Now I do ’em alone,” where the pain of continuing without a cherished mentor is palpable.

The bridge of the song offers a moment of stark vulnerability. Miraldi’s admission of “Still looking for a sign / Hoping that you’re fine” reveals the often irrational yet deeply human desire to maintain a connection with those we’ve lost.

It’s a sentiment that resonates beyond the specifics of her personal loss, tapping into a universal experience of grief.

Sonically, Unfinished Business eschews the polished production often associated with contemporary pop.

Instead, it embraces a lo-fi aesthetic that feels more akin to a late-night confessional than a carefully curated studio session.

This choice amplifies the song’s emotional impact, creating a sense of immediacy that’s both unsettling and deeply moving.

As the track concludes with repeated pleas of “Don’t go, don’t go away,” Miraldi leaves listeners with a sense of incompleteness that echoes the song’s title.

It’s a bold choice, denying the audience the comfort of resolution and instead inviting them to sit with the discomfort of unresolved grief.

The song’s power lies in its restraint. There’s no need for elaborate production or dramatic flair; instead, it’s a raw and personal expression, more confession than performance.

The simplicity here is not an absence but a choice, allowing the weight of the subject matter to speak for itself.

Liv Miraldi Unfinished Business Lyrics

Verse 1
I dreamed we were two cars
In passing, going to opposite ways
My hands on the window
I cried out 24 hours too late

Pre-Chorus
Didn’t cross the t’s and dot your i’s, mm-mm
Didn’t even get to say goodbye

Chorus
We got some unfinished business
Don’t go, don’t go away
Things should be different
I know you would’ve stayed
But you left me with the lights off
No, it’s not your fault your heart stopped
But now we’ve got unfinished business

Verse 2
I threw in the towel
You caught it, pulled me back into the rain
So many things we were supposed to do
Now I do ‘еm alone
And I think of you[Pre-Chorus]
Didn’t get to thank you for the ridе, mm-mm
Didn’t even get to say goodbye

Chorus
Oh, we got some unfinished business
Don’t go, don’t go away
Things should be different
I know you would’ve stayed
But you left me with the lights off
No, it’s not your fault your heart stopped
But now we’ve got unfinished business

Bridge
Still looking for a sign
Hoping that you’re fine
And no matter how I try
I’m stuck in 2019
Looking for a sign
Hoping that you’re fine
Why the hell am I
Stuck in 2019?

Outro
Don’t go, don’t go away
Don’t go, don’t go away
(Still stuck in 2019)
Don’t go, don’t go away
Don’t go, don’t go away