We Called It Love

Song Meaning

This track opens with a stark assertion: the narrator was the one who facilitated an escape, implying a past relationship built on a foundation of deception. The speaker claims the other person lived a falsehood until their departure, and even then, continued the pretense of exclusivity. This immediate framing suggests a relationship where authenticity was consistently sidelined, setting a somber and accusatory tone from the outset. The core tension seems to stem from a persistent, perhaps unhealthy, entanglement. The narrator admits to 'tripping up on the things I say,' indicating ongoing communication issues, yet they 'lived it anyway.' This phrase highlights a resignation to a flawed dynamic, a choice to persist despite clear evidence of incompatibility. The chilling line, 'I dreamt I broke your heart and the dream came true,' points to a destructive cycle, where even imagined betrayals manifest into reality, underscoring a deep-seated dysfunction. The lyrics employ a striking contrast between past and present perceptions of self and the relationship. The narrator recalls a specific moment in 'Echo Park in 2002,' a seemingly pivotal point where a crisis was averted ('Put down the blade'). Yet, the subsequent question, 'I see my reflection, what do you see?' implies a fundamental disconnect in how they both processed or remember this event, and perhaps how they view each other now. This is amplified by the narrator's assertion that they are 'alone but you have as well,' suggesting a shared isolation despite the past pretense of unity. The repeated refrain, 'We used to call it something / We called it love,' acts as a poignant, almost mournful, acknowledgment of a lost or mislabeled past. This repetition builds to the stark realization in the chorus: 'I don't believe people ever change / But I've changed.' This final declaration is the emotional crux, a radical self-assessment that sets the narrator apart from the perceived immutability of others, suggesting a profound, albeit perhaps painful, personal evolution that redefines their entire past experience.