In my opinion this song is about a relationship or an almost-relationship that could have worked out but something was stopping it at the time, something difficult. They may have been able to work through it and he wishes he could see it that way but he can't ignore the facts.
When he says "I never tried to trick you babe, I just tried to work it out, but I was swallowed up by doubt" I believe he is trying to say that he meant everything he said and felt, and he wasn't toying with their emotions, he was trying hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel...but the doubt of the difficultness of it consumed his heart. He couldn't see past it.
"if only things were black and white, cause I just wanna hold you tight without holding back my mind"
This line shows us that he did truly wish things could work out between them, and if the situation wasn't so complicated it would be perfect, but its not.
He see's things in negative lights whether he wants to or not, he says nothing lasts forever anyway, its a surprise we made it as far as we did ("and most don't even last the night")
When he discusses lying, I believe he may be getting at the fact there was a time he could see this working (but deep down he knew that wasn't true), but that lie he told gave enough hope to bring someone completely down, making them feel like everything was a possible lie, but that isn't true. When he says "it might as well been a thousand", it shows guilt is getting at him.
So the singer is showing his love may not be active anymore for this person, but general love for them is still there. He will always hold them dear. He still wishes he could see past whatever is causing the doubt of their future (possibly trust issues, just for an example) but he just can't. He knows how it is, is how it needs to be, but he still misses what they had.
Mumford and Sons songs usually have a way deeper meaning, so mine could be wrong, but either way.. very sad but beautiful song.
In my opinion this song is about a relationship or an almost-relationship that could have worked out but something was stopping it at the time, something difficult. They may have been able to work through it and he wishes he could see it that way but he can't ignore the facts.
When he says "I never tried to trick you babe, I just tried to work it out, but I was swallowed up by doubt" I believe he is trying to say that he meant everything he said and felt, and he wasn't toying with their emotions, he was trying hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel...but the doubt of the difficultness of it consumed his heart. He couldn't see past it.
"if only things were black and white, cause I just wanna hold you tight without holding back my mind" This line shows us that he did truly wish things could work out between them, and if the situation wasn't so complicated it would be perfect, but its not.
He see's things in negative lights whether he wants to or not, he says nothing lasts forever anyway, its a surprise we made it as far as we did ("and most don't even last the night")
When he discusses lying, I believe he may be getting at the fact there was a time he could see this working (but deep down he knew that wasn't true), but that lie he told gave enough hope to bring someone completely down, making them feel like everything was a possible lie, but that isn't true. When he says "it might as well been a thousand", it shows guilt is getting at him.
So the singer is showing his love may not be active anymore for this person, but general love for them is still there. He will always hold them dear. He still wishes he could see past whatever is causing the doubt of their future (possibly trust issues, just for an example) but he just can't. He knows how it is, is how it needs to be, but he still misses what they had.
Mumford and Sons songs usually have a way deeper meaning, so mine could be wrong, but either way.. very sad but beautiful song.