Sign of the Times

Although Styles said that in an interview this is about a mother talking to her infant before she dies in childbirth, there are still ways to relate to this as a listener.

Just stop your crying It's a sign of the times Welcome to the final show Hope you're wearing your best clothes

You can't bribe the door on your way to the sky You look pretty good down here But you ain't really good

This is about coming to terms with death--but it could also be any transformation. When you go through a big transition in life, you essentially are forced to die. You have to make it your best and not be upset because it is just a natural part of time. It is also important to put on a good appearance, since that is how you will be remembered.

The second part of the verse is similar to the song "Stairway to Heaven." When you're being forced to make a change, you don't really have a say. Doing this make someone's appearance only that--an appearance.

We never learn, we've been here before Why are we always stuck and running from The bullets, the bullets? We never learn, we've been here before Why are we always stuck and running from The bullets, the bullets?

As humans, we are always dying and being reborn again in various situations. However, we avoid what might kill us or what makes us afraid. We might grow and become better people, but there is usually something in the back of our minds preventing us from acting to our full capabilities.

Just stop your crying It's a sign of the times We gotta get away from here We gotta get away from here Just stop your crying It'll be alright They told me that the end is near We gotta get away from here

Just stop your crying Have the time of your life Breaking through the atmosphere And things are pretty good from here

This part of life is unhealthy and the speaker of the song feels like they must escape it and that will be the solution. Someone in authority has said that it is time to move on. It seems like this is a great hope and for the best.

It is stressed that despite the fact they are moving on, they must enjoy the time they have left together because it is important or they will not learn anything from the transition. You will always be looking for breaks in life if you do not stop and enjoy it. When you do, a bad situation that you will inevitably get out of will be a learning experience that will make you stronger when you transition.

Remember, everything will be alright We can meet again somewhere Somewhere far away from here

For whatever reason, these two people are parting. Their lives are probably just going on two different paths. The speaker is reminding the person that they are talking to repeatedly that it will be okay; change is a natural part of life. They will reunite eventually but in a different way than they knew each other before.

We don't talk enough We should open up Before it's all too much Will we ever learn? We've been here before It's just what we know

In life, it's often hard to communicate with certain people. Relationships are strange and so are lack of ones. Some people have connections with one another that they cannot explain. Even when life situations change and they become better people, they are still afraid of whatever is between them.

Overall, this song is about change and how as humans, no matter how powerful we become, we all have one person who is our weakness.