Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a picture of a love that has significantly changed over time. Initially, there was a deep connection, characterized by long conversations where one person spoke "softly and slow." This suggests intimacy and a comfortable, unhurried pace to their relationship.
However, a stark contrast is immediately drawn between that past and the present. The narrator observes that "things aren't quite the same," introducing a palpable sense of doubt and uncertainty about the future of their love. This shift from assured connection to questioning its endurance forms the central tension.
The most striking element is the direct, almost stark question posed at the end: "What shall we do." This isn't a plea for reconciliation or a lament of loss, but a pragmatic, perhaps resigned, inquiry into the next steps. The phrase "Love has gone / Faded away" is a simple, direct statement of fact, devoid of melodrama, which makes the subsequent question feel even more weighty and inevitable.
This directness, coupled with the clear before-and-after framing, creates an emotional resonance. The lyrics capture that quiet, unsettling moment when the realization dawns that a relationship has fundamentally altered, leaving the individuals to face the practicalities of what comes next. It’s the sound of love’s slow fade leading not to a dramatic breakup, but to a quiet, shared acknowledgment of an ending and the need to decide on a path forward.