Always/Never

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of someone caught in a loop of self-recrimination and unfulfilled desire. The opening verse immediately establishes a pattern of perceived failure: being "out of time," "letting someone down," and "getting something wrong." This sense of perpetual inadequacy is amplified by the constant, almost ironic, use of "Always" preceding these negative self-assessments, suggesting a deeply ingrained belief in their own shortcomings. The narrator seems to be trapped in a cycle of their own making, where the "Always" functions as a self-fulfilling prophecy. The core tension lies in the contrast between the narrator's internal state and their external actions, or lack thereof. Phrases like "Never said and done" and "Never facing you" point to a profound hesitancy and an inability to commit or confront. This internal paralysis clashes with the overwhelming desire expressed in the chorus: "Longing for, it's been a long time longing for / To carry the sky away." This grand, almost impossible aspiration suggests a deep yearning for escape or a radical transformation, a desire to shoulder immense burdens or achieve something monumental, yet they remain stuck. The most striking aspect of the craft is the deliberate, almost percussive, juxtaposition of "Always" and "Never." This creates a disorienting effect, highlighting the narrator's contradictory self-perception. They are simultaneously convinced of their unchanging flaws ("Always gonna be this way") and their perpetual state of incompletion or avoidance ("Never said and done"). The repetition in the outro, "Always, never," hammers home this central paradox, leaving the listener with a sense of unresolved conflict and the weight of an inescapable internal struggle. Ultimately, these lyrics resonate because they capture the frustrating experience of feeling perpetually stuck between who you are and who you wish you could be. The writing effectively uses the simple, stark contrast of "Always" and "Never" to articulate a complex internal landscape of self-doubt and a powerful, yet seemingly unattainable, longing for something more. It’s the sound of someone wrestling with their own nature, wishing they could lift the weight of the world but feeling perpetually unable to even move.