Interesting to read interpretations. One of my relationships ended because an old flame came back into my life and I wasn't over her. I was honest to my new gf and said I needed to investigate these old feelings. She let me see her, I never cheated, but there was a kiss. Long story short, everything fell apart from there, my gf broke up with me, started seeing someone else, I got back with my old flame, but nothing felt right again and I regretted ever straying in the first place. To me, "gotta gotta be down because I want it all" meant I've got to be okay with this new arrangement because I brought it on with my own selfishness. And of course all the regret. "it started out with a kiss, how did it end up like this...", the kiss being mine. "But it's just the price I pay, destiny is calling me..." trying to make sense of everything. That's how it fit into my experience:-) btw, I think Brandon Flowers got off easy not writing a second verse to this song and instead repeating the first:-P Still love it though.