Promise Lyrics

Lyric discussion by HartoPicante 

Cover art for Promise lyrics by Ben Howard

This song describes a situation within the context of a couple facing a definitive separation. The structure of the song makes one think that she had an affair and now she regrets and wants to have another opportunity with his boyfriend/husband. So, he sings the song explaining how he feels.

The couple is living difficult times, they spend time together but he doesn’t see things to get better. There is certain hopelessness in the first verse:

“And meet me there, bundles of flowers We wait through the hours of cold Winter shall howl at the walls Tearing down doors of time Shelter as we go”

Then, he asks her to commit, telling her that it is the only way for him to consider coming back:

“And promise me this You'll wait for me only Scared of the lonely arms Surface, far below these burn And maybe, just maybe I'll come home”

At the end of the song, he is so insecure that asks what he means to her. He’d like to hear that she loves him but he is not sure anymore. Is she with him out of pity?

My Interpretation