Always Remember to Never Forget

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of someone addressing a "beautiful one" whose inherent worth is threatened by a "hollow" and "broken" world. The narrator insists that the "fairy tale" narratives, which often feature a "maiden so lovely and a hero so true," actually borrow from the subject's own story. This framing immediately elevates the listener's perceived value, suggesting their essence is the very stuff of legend. The initial verses establish a tone of gentle admiration and a desire to affirm the subject's intrinsic qualities against external pressures. The central tension arises from the conflict between the subject's true nature and the world's tendency to obscure or diminish it. The "hollow" world "wants to swallow / Any memory of who you really are," while the "broken" world "wants to hold back / Any evidence of, that kind of love." This creates a push-and-pull dynamic, where the narrator's message acts as a direct counterpoint to these negative forces, urging the subject to resist being defined by external decay. The lyrics suggest a profound internal beauty that the outside world actively tries to suppress. The most striking craft element is the insistent, almost mantra-like repetition of the chorus: "Always remember to never forget." This paradoxical phrase functions as a powerful mnemonic device, designed to embed the core message deep within the listener's consciousness. It’s a call to active remembrance, urging the subject to hold onto their self-worth by actively recalling it. The mirror imagery – "When you look in the mirror, the answer is yes" – reinforces this, making self-affirmation the ultimate truth, a truth that the world tries to make one forget.