How It Was

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of disillusionment with someone who seems perpetually dissatisfied. The narrator directly questions this person's behavior, contrasting their current state with a remembered past. There's a sense of frustration that this individual was always "lookin' for somethin'," even when they seemingly possessed everything they needed. This sets up a core tension: the narrator's growing weariness in the face of this unquenchable, perhaps self-destructive, desire. The central conflict emerges from the narrator's emotional exhaustion. The repeated declaration "And I'm tired / Uninspired" coupled with "My expectations out of reach" reveals a profound sense of depletion. It suggests the narrator has invested emotional energy into this dynamic, only to find their own hopes and inspiration waning as a direct result of the other person's actions. The phrase "What you had was never yours" adds a layer of bitterness, implying a fundamental misunderstanding or misappreciation of their own circumstances by the subject of the song. The most striking aspect of the craft is the direct, almost accusatory repetition of "Why are you like this." This simple question, bookended by the contrasting memories of "how it was," underscores the narrator's bewilderment and the perceived shift in the other person's character. The stark, declarative statements in the chorus function as a raw expression of the narrator's internal state, devoid of complex metaphor but potent in their directness. This lack of embellishment amplifies the feeling of being drained and defeated. What makes these lyrics resonate is their unflinching portrayal of the emotional toll of dealing with someone else's insatiable needs. The narrator isn't just observing; they are actively feeling the consequences, becoming "tired" and "uninspired" themselves. The lyrics capture that specific kind of exhaustion that comes from watching someone else chase an elusive 'something,' and realizing your own well-being has been compromised in the process.