What do you mean by stripping it down to its essence?
The lyrics are - word heavy. You seem to say the same thing more than one but in a different way. Stripping the song down is getting to it's basic message.
Do you mean the lyrics is all about my love and feelings rather than the actual girl? You've written it in such a way that you're hoping for her to answer. Put yourself in her position and find out what you would feel if someone said those things to you - i.e Run a mile, throw yourself at them, laughs at them - etc.,
What do you mean by universal truth? Often songs that engage with an audience are about a shared human experience rather than a particular one
Hope that helps