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"
Your fingertips across my skin
The palm trees swaying in the wind
Images
You sang me Spanish lullabies
The sweetest sadness in your eyes
Clever trick
Well, I never want to see you unhappy
I thought you'd want the same for me
Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
Should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do
We walked along a crowded street
You took my hand and danced with me
Images
And when you left, you kissed my lips
You told me you would never, never forget
These images
Well, I'd never want to see you unhappy
I thought you'd want the same for me
Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
Should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do
I cannot go to the ocean
I cannot drive the streets at night
I cannot wake up in the morning
Without you on my mind
So you're gone and I'm haunted
And I bet you are just fine
Did I make it that easy to walk right in and out
Of my life?
Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
Should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do
The palm trees swaying in the wind
Images
You sang me Spanish lullabies
The sweetest sadness in your eyes
Clever trick
Well, I never want to see you unhappy
I thought you'd want the same for me
Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
Should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do
We walked along a crowded street
You took my hand and danced with me
Images
And when you left, you kissed my lips
You told me you would never, never forget
These images
Well, I'd never want to see you unhappy
I thought you'd want the same for me
Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
Should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do
I cannot go to the ocean
I cannot drive the streets at night
I cannot wake up in the morning
Without you on my mind
So you're gone and I'm haunted
And I bet you are just fine
Did I make it that easy to walk right in and out
Of my life?
Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I'm trying not to think about you
Can't you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
Should've known you'd bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do
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More Featured Meanings
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
i feel like this song was wrote for me. to me it means to me being led on by someone for so long and having them come and go from your life as they please. but then finally realizing that its never gonna be anymore than what it has been and it literally breaks your hear. :(
It sounds to me like a song about a romance that never formed, even though the girl was given so many false signals. The girl, though determined to leave it all behind and move on, is still hung up on the almost romance and feels indignant towards the guy, not out of genuine dislike or honest blame for his feelings, but out of her hurt over what has happened. I think she still wants it to work out deep in her heart, though she knows in the left side of her brain that it won't work out and that shes better off moving on.
Having been both in the girls position, as well having seen the pain of those I care most about when they find themselves in the same position, this song really hits me deep, as I bet it does a lot of people for one reason or another.
ok to me it is the same but also different ok i know this is going to sound nerdy but in new moon when edward leaves bella that is what it reminds me of and for the people who havent read it it means that he is leaving but she still loves him but now that he is gone she wants to forget about him but kinda cant cause she loves him but she is tryin to get over him so hard that it hurts but she cant because she does love him and sees him everywhere
Metalsandman99 Is right....Sadly I can admit that he is right because a few months back I was dating this truly awful girl. I met this girl 4 years ago this august and we went out for 3 months then broke up because of my own insecurities. March of this year my ex posted a cover that she did of that song on youtube. She was singing it towards me. <br /> <br /> Point being the song is about a girl who has feelings for a guy who doesn't seem to notice. Its not exactly false signals just a love that never formed. In my case it eventually reformed.
soccer101, you are not a nerd, don't worry. That was the exact scene that came to my mind when I first heard the song, too. Or maybe we sre both nerds LOL.
This song... wow... it just tugs at my heart strings.
This song for me is like what Metalsandman999 has said. About romance that ended before it began. Though one of her lines "Can't you just let me be?" I think that the male that she is infatuated with still wants to be friends. Or maybe, just that he's in her mind, and she wants to get him out. But I think that if she had a chance to be with him, she would, even though he had hurt her so badly.
i totally agree about the meaning of the song. <br /> i love this song!
story of my life
It means that she fell in love with someone who was leading her on by saying and acting like he loved her back, but then he just left her behind. Just like that. I should know.
OK so obviously this song is about a girl who's been led on by some asshole who doesn't really want her...been there. "Goodbye my hopeless dream I'm trying not to think about you Can't you just let me be? So long my luckless romance My back is turned on you Should've known you'd bring me heartbreak Almost lovers always do" I relate to that the most.
amazing and heartwrenching song.
to me it's about a relationship that ended when it had just begun.. the abrutness of the ending is torture.. and the dreams and thoughts and memories are all soo haunting..and so prevelant... everwhere she looks she's reminded and haunted.
sigh.. i can relate all too well. IMUILU
This song instantly made me think of the first man I fell in love with, though at the time we were both simple high school students. When I first listened to it, the memories that I have tried for so long to lock away come to the front of my mind, and at the end of the song I break down and cry. The song still has that affect, but I have tried to be thankful for the time I had with him, and I will always be unhappy that we didn't work out like we planned when we were both so naive.
The song is about a love that she thought was there buthe didnt feel that way he lead her on im actually the artists cousin
personally i think this song is about a girl who was visiting a foreign country (palm trees, spanish lullabies, etc), met a guy, and they had a sort of romance, but since she wasn't staying for very long it couldn't really develop into anything satisfying, and she can't let it go.
maybe i only think of it like this because the exact thing just happened to me....
Same here! i totally agree with all the interpretations.<br /> but your one just really hit home. i met this guy on my summer holiday we had fun and i kinda fell for a couple weeks later i left. never kept in contact :[