"The One That Got Away" analysis

"The One That Got Away" tells the story of a woman who is desperate not to let a man get away from her. They are not in a relationship yet, but she feels strongly for him and she thinks he is slipping away. She speaks directly to him, pleading with him to stay and give them a chance. The speaker uses the device anaphora several times. In the first verse, she says, "Open up your heart/Open up your mind." This repetition puts emphasis on her desire for him to open himself up to her. In the chorus, every two lines begins with the same word or phrase, stressing her longing and her pursuit of him.