Always Been You

Song Meaning

The narrator grapples with an intense, singular focus on one person, admitting it feels like unrequited love. This internal struggle is amplified by the contrast between their usual guarded nature and the way this person ignites them. The lyrics paint a picture of someone trying to maintain composure, but failing spectacularly when this individual enters the picture, leading to sleepless nights and emotional turmoil. The central tension lies in the narrator's inability to escape this fixation, even when they try to deny or redirect their feelings. They describe being "underwater" and "trippin'," suggesting a loss of control and a drowning sensation brought on by these thoughts. The repeated phrase "sick of playin' like there's someone else" highlights the exhausting effort of pretending these feelings aren't real or all-consuming. The most striking aspect of the writing is the stark declaration in the chorus: "'Cause in my head / It's always been you." This isn't just a passing thought; it's a deeply ingrained reality that the narrator has tried to alter, rewriting their feelings "hundreds of times." The admission that "if it ain't you, it's a lie" underscores the absolute nature of this devotion, suggesting that any other possibility feels fundamentally untrue. This raw honesty about a singular, overwhelming affection is what makes the lyrics hit so hard. The narrator isn't just describing a crush; they're confessing a state of being where this one person occupies their entire mental landscape. The vulnerability in admitting it's "hard to be fine when your heart's on the line" combined with the sheer force of "always been you" creates a powerful portrait of inescapable emotional gravity.