All Those Things We’ve Done

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of shared experiences, a life lived with a sense of both spontaneity and destiny. The repeated phrase "All those things we've done" acts as a grounding anchor, a constant reminder of a past that binds the narrator to another person. There's a feeling of looking back on a significant period, marked by moments of intense connection and perhaps a touch of recklessness, suggested by "Jump in and out of pace" and "Covered in Irish fate." The central tension seems to lie in the contrast between the vividness of past memories and the passive observation of time's passage. The narrator recalls "lightning in your eyes" and "comfort in your lives," implying moments of passion and security. Yet, these are juxtaposed with "Watching the years go by" and "Stars fly across our sky," hinting at a sense of detachment or the inevitable movement of life, even as the memories remain potent. The imagery of "Irish fate" is particularly striking, suggesting a sense of predetermined circumstances or perhaps a shared, almost fated, path. The "lightning in your eyes" captures a powerful, perhaps volatile, energy in the other person, while the "comfort in your lives" points to a more settled, perhaps even mundane, aspect of their shared existence. The "empty glass" refilled "After the rain came down" offers a subtle metaphor for finding solace or renewal after difficult times. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their evocative, yet open-ended, nature. They capture the bittersweet feeling of looking back on a life filled with shared moments, both grand and simple, acknowledging that while time moves on, the imprint of "all those things we've done" remains indelible. The simple, almost aphoristic "Life works, in ways / Time can't be saved" serves as a quiet acceptance of this reality.