Hope by The Chainsmokers Lyrics Meaning – Dissecting the Layers of Lost Love and Illusionary Affection

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for The Chainsmokers's Hope at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

I would have walked through fire to kiss your lips
Do you still think about it, of what you did?
Still see your old apartment, like a bad trip
Wish I could forget all the places we’ve been

Hard and heavy whiskey goodbyes
Boy, you know how to make a girl cry
Was sleeping in a bed full of lies
And now that I’m older, I can see why

You made me feel high
‘Cause you had me so low, low, low
You only seemed tall
‘Cause you stunted my grow-grow-growth
I only wanted you ’cause I couldn’t have you
Now that I know
That wasn’t love, that wasn’t love, that was just hope

Hope
Hope
Hope
That wasn’t love, that wasn’t love, that was just hope

Always another bender, I lose control
I thought I’d get it back when
You came back home to me, darling
But I never had it, did I? Your heart’s a trick
And all the magic we felt was just a hit

Hard and heavy whiskey goodbyes
Boy, you know how to make a girl cry
Was sleeping in a bed full of lies
And now that I’m older, I can see why

You made me feel high
‘Cause you had me so low, low, low
You only seemed tall
‘Cause you stunted my grow-grow-growth
I only wanted you ’cause I couldn’t have you
Now that I know (now that I know)
That wasn’t love, that wasn’t love, that was just hope

Hope
Hope (’cause you had me so low)
Hope (now that I know)
That wasn’t love, that wasn’t love, that was just hope

‘Cause you had me so low, low, low
You only seemed tall
‘Cause you stunted my grow-grow-growth
I only wanted you ’cause I couldn’t have you
Now that I know (now that I know)
That wasn’t love, that wasn’t love, that was just hope

Within the rhythmic beats and electronic flourishes that define The Chainsmokers, lies a raw narrative of a heart misled by the mirage of a love that never truly was. ‘Hope’ isn’t just another addition to the band’s discography; it is an exploration into the emotional tumult experienced when grappling with the realization that what one felt was never love, but hope.

As we dive into the song line by line, we uncover the tale of a soul that fought through fire for a love that scorched rather than soothed. The Chainsmokers’ ‘Hope’ is laced with the kind of emotional complexity that invites listeners to reflect on their own experiences, distinguishing hope from love, and growth from stagnation.

The Journey Through Fire: A Testament to Passion Misplaced

The opening line, ‘I would have walked through fire to kiss your lips,’ sets the stage for a story of intense longing and misplaced devotion. This paints a vivid picture of the lengths to which one would go for a love that, in hindsight, offered more pain than solace.

Continuing this theme, the mention of old apartments and bad trips becomes a metaphor for the haunting memories that chase the protagonist, long after the relationship has ended – a common human experience where places become emotional landscapes marked by what occurred within them.

Whiskey Goodbyes: The Agony of Parting and the Poison of Falsehoods

The imagery of ‘hard and heavy whiskey goodbyes’ conjures the bitter taste and burning sensation of alcohol, symbolizing the sharp sting of a broken relationship. The repeated scenes of departure become synonymous with the pain felt when hope fades into darkness.

Lies and deception form the bed upon which the protagonist slept, a place meant for rest transformed into a breeding ground for betrayal. The reference to youthful naivety gives way to the epiphany that comes with age, an essential ingredient in recognizing the true face of the past.

A Soul Stunted: The Hidden Meaning Behind Growth Denied

Among the most poignant revelations in ‘Hope’ is the recognition that personal growth was stunted by a partner’s towering facade. ‘You only seemed tall ’cause you stunted my grow-grow-growth’ is a lament for the time lost to someone who appeared significant, only because they kept their partner small.

Here lies the hidden meaning of the song – a reflection on those relationships which, under the guise of nurturance, covertly clip the wings of possibility, stifling the very growth they are supposed to support. The song strikes a chord as it mirrors the struggle of finding one’s way out of the shadow of a relationship that diminished rather than elevated.

Revelation Repeated: The Mantra of Misunderstood Affection

Repetition in song often serves to underline a core theme, and ‘Hope’ utilizes this tactic to drive home its central premise. The refrain ‘That wasn’t love, that wasn’t love, that was just hope’ becomes a mantra, reminding both the singer and the listeners of the distinction between genuine love and the illusion of it fueled by hope.

The melody behind these words carries the transformation from denial to acceptance, a crucial step in moving forward. It is the repeated confrontation with reality that seals the understanding, allowing for the dismantling of false narratives we construct around past relationships.

Unforgettable Lines: Echoes of Lost Dreams and the Mechanics of Moving On

Every song has those lines that linger long after the music has stopped, and in ‘Hope’, the potent admission ‘I only wanted you ’cause I couldn’t have you’ captures the irony of human desire – the yearning for what remains out of reach, mistaken for love.

As the chorus crescendos, listeners are called to their own catharsis, identifying with the pain of realizing love was just an apparition. Yet, in the hurt lie the seeds of freedom, and it is through these memorable lines that ‘Hope’ offers not just a reflection, but also a roadmap out of the emotional labyrinth of lost love.