Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of someone trying to move past a stagnant relationship or situation. There's a clear sense of personal growth and upward momentum, contrasted with the other person's unchanging nature. The narrator observes, "You love cheap thrills and always will," highlighting a fundamental difference in their paths. This isn't just about moving on; it's about acknowledging a persistent disconnect. The central tension lies in the narrator's struggle between their own progress and the emotional weight of the past. The repeated phrase, "Oh the hardest part was always letting go," underscores this difficulty. It suggests a deep-seated attachment that makes detachment painful, even as the narrator asserts their own ascent with "I'm on the up and up." The recurring motif of returning "back to the start" when something "breaks my heart" is particularly striking. It reveals a cyclical pattern of emotional pain that pulls the narrator back, despite their efforts to move forward. This creates a sense of being trapped in a loop, where progress is constantly undermined by unresolved feelings. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their raw portrayal of this push-and-pull. The contrast between "up and up" and "lookin' down," coupled with the repeated, almost desperate, refrain about letting go and returning to the start, captures the exhausting reality of trying to escape a familiar emotional landscape.