If You Ever Want To Be In Love by James Bay Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Layers of Lost Love and Hope
Lyrics
Felt just like it used to be
Talking for hours ’bout a different life
Surrounded us in memories
We were close never close enough
Where are we now
‘Cause if it’s torn we can stitch it up
Don’t rule it out
Oh no no
I’ll come around
If you ever want to be in love
I’m not waiting, but I’m willing if you call me up
If you ever want to be in love
I’ll come around
Wanted to ask if we could have been
But my tongue wouldn’t break the seal
You always had something effortless
At school you were the biggest deal
Little quirks close and open up
Time is slipping by
I’m always thinking ’bout the two of us
Replay on my mind
Always playing on my mind
I’ll come around
If you ever want to be in love
I’m not waiting, but I’m willing if you call me up
If you ever want to be in love
I’ll come around
We were, young we were side by side
Don’t know when we started losing touch
If you want we could walk around
Maybe that would be enough
Used to talk drinking to the night
I would wake up on the front room floor
All along you’d be in my bed
Make me crazy make me want you more
I’ll come around
If you ever want to be in love
I’m not waiting, but I’m willing if you call me up
I’ll come around
If you ever want to be in love
I’m not waiting, but I’m willing if you call me up
If you ever want to be in love
I’ll come around
In a song that strikes a chord with anyone who’s ever stumbled over words left unsaid, James Bay crafts a narrative of almost-loves and what-ifs in his emotive ballad, ‘If You Ever Want To Be In Love.’ Through gentle guitar strums and his raw vocal sincerity, Bay invokes a nostalgia that resonates with the tender scars of past relationships.
The song isn’t just a call to a lost love, but a lament of missed chances and the everlasting hope of reconciliation. With each verse, Bay peels back layers of memory, regret, and yearning, ultimately culminating in a chorus that offers both a resolve to move forward and a quiet plea for a second chance.
A Nostalgic Journey Through Melancholy Memories
Bay’s opening lines transport the listener to a chance reunion, dripping with the familiarity of a past bond. The talk for ‘hours’ about ‘a different life’ signifies more than just a walk down memory lane; it’s an re-exploration of paths not taken and feelings not fully explored. The song stirs a collective sentimentality, unveiling the commonality of shared history that so often goes unresolved.
In this throwback to yesteryears, each memory encapsulates a moment where closeness was palpable yet insufficient. It’s a universal human experience—straddling the line between friendship and something more, without ever crossing it completely.
Undone Threads of Romance: The Hidden Meaning
The metaphor ‘if it’s torn we can stitch it up’ is a powerful undercurrent of the song’s hidden meaning. It’s the quiet admission that all is not lost, and the fabric of their shared history might still be recoverable. This line is a hedge against the finality of goodbye and a testament to the lasting impact of true connection.
Even as Bay acknowledges the frayed edges of the relationship, there’s an underlying thread of optimism. The possibility of mending, of stitching up what was once torn, lingers as a subtle yet potent symbol of hope for revival.
The Haunting Regret of the Unspoken
Bay touches a common nerve with his portrayal of tongue-tied moments, where confession is paralyzed by fear. ‘Wanted to ask if we could have been’ reveals the helplessness of unspoken desires. The ‘seal’ of his lips isn’t just a personal battle but a human dilemma, where self-protection wars against the risk of vulnerability.
In this admission lies the crux of the song’s impact: the poignant pain of keeping the heart’s deepest questions locked away, potentially leaving the most important pages of one’s story unwritten.
The Persistence of Memory and Desire
The interplay between ‘replay on my mind’ and ‘always playing on my mind’ underscores the song’s exploration of the lingering hold of past connections. It addresses the enduring impact of intimate moments and the power they wield long after the event itself has vanished into the recesses of time.
Bay perfectly encapsulates the torture and the comfort of such recollections—how they haunt, yet are cherished relics; constant reminders of what could have been, feeding the desire that simmers beneath the veneer of moving on.
The Siren Call of ‘Come Around’: Memorable Lines That Captivate
At the heart of Bay’s ballad are the simple yet evocative words ‘I’ll come around.’ This refrain is the song’s siren call—the beacon of willingness that signals a door left ajar, all the while maintaining a self-protective stance. It’s a non-committal commitment, a way of saying ‘yes’ without the pain of active waiting.
These lines encapsulate the internal tug-of-war between hope and self-preservation, making it a touchstone for anyone who has grappled with the longing to rekindle a lost love in the face of life’s unfolding uncertainty.
