Never Were

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a youthful idealism clashing with the realities of adult life. Initially, the narrator recalls a childhood fueled by books and a desire for escape, dreaming of a future where they could "give our bodies for social protest" without concern for consequences. This early spirit of defiance and ambition is framed by parental expectations focused on academic success and a stable future, setting up a core tension between personal conviction and societal pressures. The central conflict emerges as the narrator grapples with the compromises and disillusionments that come with age and responsibility. The line, "When you've got kids and rent, then come and see me," suggests a dismissive attitude from those who have seemingly abandoned their youthful ideals for practicality. This is underscored by the narrator's own internal struggle, acknowledging, "I make mistakes all the time" while still "holding to higher standards, unreachable lines." The repeated refrain about keeping promises and the desire to "take back some things that were said" points to a deep regret and a difficulty in living up to past convictions. A particularly striking element is the narrator's evolving understanding of activism, moving from a simplistic view of "violence to radical politics" to embracing a more nuanced "twenty-something anarcho-feminist" identity. This transformation is encapsulated by the powerful, self-imposed mantra: "if you're not now, you never were." This phrase acts as a constant, urgent reminder to stay true to one's principles, even amidst the perceived failures and the "bored and angry with nothing to lose" state that hindsight can reveal. The repetition of the childhood imagery at the end brings the narrative full circle, highlighting the enduring influence of those early "wild thoughts" and the ongoing effort to reconcile them with lived experience.