By the Broadness

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a poignant, almost dreamlike reunion or memory. The narrator recognizes someone from behind, identifying them by the "broadness of your shoulders," a detail that immediately anchors the recognition in a physical, almost primal sense. This initial glimpse, coupled with the observation that the person is "a couple years older" and their hair is "as I remember," suggests a past connection, perhaps a childhood friend or a lost love, now seen again after some time has passed. The narrator's immediate wish to "climb the trees in December" feels like a longing for a return to a simpler, perhaps more innocent, past, even if it's a season where such activity is out of place. The core of the song seems to revolve around an intense desire to escape the constraints of time and the pain it can bring. The narrator muses, "Wouldn't it be nice to be outside of time?" envisioning a place "deep into no night" and where the sun doesn't shine, a surreal landscape devoid of the usual markers of existence. This fantastical setting is directly linked to the presence of the other person, where "holy skin when hurt just don't exist in a kiss with you." This suggests that the connection with this individual offers a profound sense of peace and immunity from suffering, a sanctuary from the harsh realities of life. The repeated refrain, "When we take our time / And throw it by the wayside," is the most striking element of the song's craft. This phrase, repeated multiple times, emphasizes a deliberate rejection of temporal progression and societal pressures. It's not just about slowing down; it's about actively discarding time itself, suggesting that the moments spent with this person are so precious and all-encompassing that the passage of time becomes irrelevant, even an obstacle to be cast aside. This radical act of temporal defiance highlights the depth of the narrator's yearning for an eternal, unburdened present with their beloved. Ultimately, the lyrics resonate because they tap into a universal desire for escape and a love that transcends ordinary limitations. The imagery, while sometimes surreal, grounds the emotional core in tangible feelings of recognition, longing, and the profound comfort found in another's presence. The song captures that rare feeling where connection with someone makes the world, and even time itself, fade away, leaving only the pure, unadulterated experience of being together, where even the "cold just don't exist."