Song Meaning
“This Year’s Kisses” immediately sets a tone of wistful disappointment. The speaker observes current romantic gestures, finding them distinctly inferior to past experiences. There's a clear sense that new affections simply "don't seem as sweet." This year's offerings just "misses" the mark.
The central tension emerges from this comparison: "this year's crop" versus "what kisses used to be." The agricultural metaphor of a "crop" subtly suggests an abundance of new, perhaps generic, romantic opportunities that fail to resonate. Even "new romance" is dismissed as not having "a chance."
The lyrics deepen this sentiment by noting that even "Mr. Moon above," a classic romantic aid, offers no help. This personification underscores the depth of the speaker's disinterest. The emotional core, however, lies in the final line: "For I'm still wearin' last year's love." This vivid image suggests an enduring, almost physical attachment to a past relationship, explaining why current romantic overtures feel so hollow.
This simple, direct explanation makes the speaker's melancholy profoundly effective. It's not that "this year's crop of kisses" is inherently bad, but rather that the speaker's heart is unavailable, still adorned with a love that hasn't faded.
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