Hard to Find

My interpretation of this song may be a bit different than others but we'll see.

I feel like this song is about a guy who grew up in a smaller community and fell deeply in love with a woman in his social circle. Maybe they dated, maybe they didn't but they always felt their personal relationship with one another was bigger than the social circle itself.

"I can see the glowing lights I can see them every night Really not that far away I could be there in a day"

He thinks to himself at times about going back for her and trying things again. It's clear he is trying to justify the decision by saying it couldn't possibly be a wasted trip. "Really not that far away" would seem like distance but I think it's more about his feelings for her. She's so close to his heart that he could justify making one last try for her.

"I wonder if you live there still I kinda think you always will If I tried you'd probably be Hard to find"

The community is a smaller one, one that typically traps people for life. He was lucky enough to get out but hates himself for leaving her there. He fears she may be stuck there but wouldn't want to see him if he came back.

"What I feel now about you then I'm just glad I can explain You're beautiful and close and young In those ways we were the same"

The first line suggests to me that his feelings for her haven't changed at all since he left. The second line suggests that as he's grown and matured, he's now able to understand how he feels about her and why he feels that way. The third line makes it seem as if his opinion of her is based on what he knew when they were growing up together. In his head, she's still that young and beautiful woman he grew to love when he was younger. And the final line suggests that he doesn't feel like he's been able to grow without her. The thought of being with her keeps him young and youthful.

"There's a lot I've not forgotten I let go of other things If I tried they'd probably be Hard to find"

Through the years he's been away, he's let go of the small city/town lifestyle and outlook. He doesn't feel like he could ever go back to that but he knows he could go back to her.

"I don't know why we had to lose The ones who took so little space They're still waiting for the east To cover what we can't erase"

This is where I feel he's talking about the social circle they both belonged to. They both lost their friends over the years but nothing was as painful as losing each other. The took "so little space" suggests to me that while they cared about their friends, they weren't anywhere near as important and impactful in their lives as they were to each other.

"I'm not holding out for you I'm still watching for the signs If I tried you'd probably be Hard to find"

He tries to tell himself that he's not "holding out" for her but he hasn't been a given a reason by anyone or anything to move on to anyone else. And if he did move on, he thinks he'd lose that last bit of hope of finding love with her again.

Now my interpretation could be completely off. But that's what comes to my mind when I've listened to the song. Beautiful work as always by The National.