Things Change

Song Meaning

This track paints a picture of a relationship where one person was controlling and the other was enabling, living in a self-imposed isolation. The narrator recounts a past where their partner dictated their life, even preventing contact with family, and the narrator passively accepted this dynamic. There's a clear sense of regret and dawning realization that this setup was built on falsehoods and was unsustainable. The core tension lies in the narrator's transition from passive acceptance to active liberation. Initially, they "made it too easy" for their partner, enduring a life "in a bubble" that was "all a lie." The emotional shift is palpable as they move from understanding "why it turned out to be the way that it was" to actively recognizing the need for change and embracing a life free from the partner's influence. The lyrics powerfully contrast the past dynamic of control with the present state of freedom. The chorus, "When we were high / I took your lows / You would decide / If I could go," succinctly captures the imbalance of power and the narrator's subservient role. This is directly juxtaposed with the second verse's imagery of newfound clarity: "Me without pressure, anxiety, fear in the night / Now I can see the colour of the sky / When it's clear." This shift from a suffocating, dependent existence to one of open skies and personal discovery is the song's central narrative arc. The repeated refrain, "Things had to change," acts as both an acknowledgment of past necessity and a triumphant declaration of present reality. It underscores the inevitability of breaking free from a damaging situation. The song's effectiveness stems from this clear depiction of a personal awakening, moving from a state of being controlled and lied to, towards a hopeful future where the narrator can finally breathe and see the world clearly, unburdened by the past.