I Forget Where We Were

Song Meaning

The lyrics open with a striking admission of inattention. The narrator is physically present but mentally elsewhere, "watching Syria" while a partner is "in the kitchen." This establishes a profound disconnect from the start. A sense of external chaos intrudes on a domestic scene. This internal struggle is central, as the narrator grapples with global anxieties ("stung by all of us") and a partner who seems to embody a lighter, more present existence ("skipping and laughing"). The partner's advice, "Don't take it so seriously," highlights a fundamental difference in how they navigate the world. The narrator yearns for love but is pulled away by larger concerns or internal noise. The imagery used to describe the partner and the relationship is particularly vivid and complex. "Your mariner's mouth" suggests a seasoned, perhaps weathered, speaker, while "the wounded with the wounder's whip" hints at a dynamic involving both vulnerability and a capacity for pain. Later, "hello love / The thistle and the burr" complicates the idea of affection, suggesting that this love, while "invincible," also carries a certain prickliness or persistent attachment. The repeated refrain, "I forget where we were," underscores a poignant inability to anchor oneself in the present moment, even with a cherished "invincible friend." This isn't just about forgetting a specific location; it suggests a deeper amnesia regarding shared experiences or the very essence of their connection. The lyrics effectively capture the modern struggle to be fully present, even amidst love, when external pressures or internal distractions constantly pull at one's attention, leaving a lingering sense of loss for what might have been.