"Washing Machine Heart" is a song by Mitski, released in 2018 on her album "Be the Cowboy". The song is an unconventional love song about a damaged relationship between Mitski and the person shes addressing. The protagonist expresses her vulnerability and longing to be accepted and loved by the person she loves. She acknowledges that the person she loves is pretending she is someone else, but ultimately asks why they cant accept her for who she is. The washing machine heart is a symbol of the turbulence and fragility of her emotions. The protagonist begs her lover to recognize her heart and to take it back, even if it is only for a night. The song is a plea for understanding and compassion in a situation where the protagonist feels helpless and alone. The song is sonically upbeat, but lyrically explores the "manic" nature of Mitskis protagonist. The highly-stylized music video matches the cinematic look of Mitskis current album cycle, drawing upon clever film noir light-and-dark contrasts to give "Washing Machine Heart" a feeling of underlying uneasiness.