Always

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of someone grappling with a past relationship, fixated on a figure who was both inspiring and intimidating. The opening lines establish a sense of lingering memory and a struggle to keep pace, setting a tone of wistful reflection. There's an immediate contrast between the speaker's need to "slow down" and the other person's "fearless soul," hinting at a fundamental difference in their approach to life and love. The central tension arises from the speaker's self-perception as a "coward when it comes to love," a vulnerability that was apparently exposed by the other person. This admission, repeated in the outro, suggests a profound impact, as their words "broke my mold" and "changed my mold." The narrator seems to be urging themselves, or perhaps the memory of the other person, to "slow down" and "tell the truth," implying a desire for honesty and a more grounded connection that was perhaps missing. The most striking craft element is the repetition of "Always" and the plea to "slow down." These phrases act as anchors, emphasizing the enduring nature of the memory and the speaker's ongoing struggle to process it. The recurring image of "barricades" suggests emotional defenses that the speaker feels compelled to dismantle, a process initiated by the other person's influence. The shift from "disarmed me by truth" to being "disarmed by words like an old wive's tale" in the second verse is particularly interesting, hinting at a possible disillusionment or a more complex understanding of the other person's impact. Ultimately, the lyrics resonate because they capture the disorienting feeling of being profoundly changed by another person, even after they are gone. The speaker's internal conflict between admiration and self-recrimination, coupled with the persistent echoes of the past, creates a powerful sense of unresolved emotion. The repeated self-labeling as a "coward" highlights the raw vulnerability at the heart of the narrative, making the memory of this past connection feel both painful and essential.