This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
You may call it in this evening
But you've only lost the night
Present all your pretty feelings
May they comfort you tonight
And I'm climbing over something
And I'm running through these walls
I don't even know if I believe
I don't even know if I believe
I don't even know if I believe
Everything you're trying to say to me
I had the strangest feeling
Your world's not all it seems
So tired of misconceiving
What else this could've been
I don't even know if I believe
I don't even know if I believe
I don't even know if I believe
Everything you're trying to say to me
So open up my eyes
Tell me I'm alive
This is never gonna go our way
If I'm gonna have to guess what's on your mind
Say something, say something
Something like you love me
Less you want to move away
From the noise of this place
Well I don't even know if I believe
I don't even know if I believe
I don't even know if I wanna believe
Everything you're trying to say to me
So open up my eyes
Tell me I'm alive
This is never gonna go our way
If I'm gonna have to guess what's on your mind
So open up my eyes
Tell me I'm alive
This is never gonna go our way
If I'm gonna have to guess what's on your mind
But you've only lost the night
Present all your pretty feelings
May they comfort you tonight
And I'm climbing over something
And I'm running through these walls
I don't even know if I believe
I don't even know if I believe
I don't even know if I believe
Everything you're trying to say to me
I had the strangest feeling
Your world's not all it seems
So tired of misconceiving
What else this could've been
I don't even know if I believe
I don't even know if I believe
I don't even know if I believe
Everything you're trying to say to me
So open up my eyes
Tell me I'm alive
This is never gonna go our way
If I'm gonna have to guess what's on your mind
Say something, say something
Something like you love me
Less you want to move away
From the noise of this place
Well I don't even know if I believe
I don't even know if I believe
I don't even know if I wanna believe
Everything you're trying to say to me
So open up my eyes
Tell me I'm alive
This is never gonna go our way
If I'm gonna have to guess what's on your mind
So open up my eyes
Tell me I'm alive
This is never gonna go our way
If I'm gonna have to guess what's on your mind
Lyrics submitted by ohsnap23, edited by rosuko1214, mistylynn, jimmyRRpage
Believe Lyrics as written by Edward James Milton Dwane Benjamin Walter David Lovett
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Maybe I'm just more prone to looking for the religious angle in Mumford songs because there are numerous examples of it in the previous albums, but to me this really sounds like somebody questioning their faith.
Marcus has used the themes of love and faith somewhat interchangeably before and though at first glance It sounds like a song about a relationship in trouble, I think the relationship he is talking about is between him and God.
I've noticed this questioning of faith as a possible theme in a few tracks on this album but this one stands out. Likes like "say something, say something" and "this is never gonna go our way if I'm gonna have to guess what's on your mind" and obviously "I don't even know if I believe" sound like someone who wants to believe in God but needs more proof. Like he's asking God to reveal himself to him, because he is unable to maintain his belief without more evidence.
Could be over-thinking it but I thought it was interesting.
@ColinE92 When I first listened to the song that is what I thought the song was about, but as I listened to the lyrics more I began to think the song was actually about a relationship of some sorts; parent and child, or a romantic relationship; in which one person has found out something that they never knew about this person and they are questioning everything that they had before.
@ColinE92 I totally agree with you and I think your interperatation is beautiful
@ColinE92 I agree with you! You're not the only one overthinking here!
I believe the song is about a relationship; whether parent and child, romantic partners, or even just friends; in which one person found out something about the other person and now they are questioning everything they had ever shared together. The person now is in shock and doesn't know if they even want to accept, himself, that this other person has actually done this thing or is this thing.
This is such a beautiful song.
I think it's about two people, one of whom is living a lie, never opening up, and the other is finally realizing that. So one is confronting the other, finally saying we get it all out, or we end this.
I think the song is about a communication issue between two people who have a romantic interest in each other. There is something in the water between the two. And they both know it, and have known for a long time. One side admits it, while the other doesn't.
One side wants to confirm whether or not this romance exists once and for all. But the breaking down and climbing over of relational walls and mountains has left this person drained, exhausted, and burned out from chasing for too long. It almost sounds like a final pleading for the other's affection, before being able to let go if nothing shows for that effort.
This song has depth and deep meaning.. so much more than what is played on radio these days. Anyone who has heartache with a failing relationship and continually pleads with the other would relate to this song. I think that he knows that's it over but wants the other person to come clean once and for all. He knows the truth now and is no longer blinded by the charade: "present your .. feelings may they comfort YOU". And "I HAD the strangest feeling Your world's not all it seems" proves that he had a feeling and now knows for sure. Very sad
A sincere and genuine open talk with God