New Year by Beach House Lyrics Meaning – Unfolding The Ethereal Journey of Self-Discovery
Lyrics
Vanish everyday
I’ll keep these promises, these promises
Stranger things will come before you
Always out of the way
We keep these promises, these promises
Can you call it?
See it coming
Just enough to tell a story
‘Bout a portrait of a young girl
Waiting for a new year
All you ever wanted
Is it getting away?
Visions of a feeling
The footsteps at bay
You were getting stronger
Memories again
Now you’re open wider
It’s better this way
All I wanted comes in colors
Vanish everyday
I’ll keep these promises, these promises
Stranger things will come before you
Always out of the way
We keep these promises, these promises
Won’t you write a letter
On the page
In your own way
Write it in a letter
On the page
It’s your own way
You were getting wiser
It’s better this way
Faces in the mirror
Memories again
Now look to a feeling
It’s lighter than breath
All you ever wanted
Is it getting away?
Can you call it?
See it coming
Just enough to tell a story
‘Bout a portrait of a young girl
Waiting for the ending of an era
Can you call it?
See it coming
Just enough to tell a story
‘Bout a portrait of a young girl
Waiting for the new year
Beach House has long been the purveyor of dreamy soundscapes that cradle the listener in layers of ethereal melodies and poignant lyrics. ‘New Year,’ a track from their critically acclaimed album ‘Bloom,’ transcends the bounds of mere auditory pleasure, reaching into the recesses of existential introspection. At its core, ‘New Year’ is a celestial anthem of renewal, profound yearnings, and the bittersweet temporality of life’s chromatic desires.
But what of the deeper implications that linger beneath the surface like undertows beneath calm waters? As we dive into the fabric of the song, lyric by lyric, a rich tapestry of meaning unfolds. It’s a narrative of genuine human experience, embroidered with the universal struggle of holding onto hope in the ever-changing tableau of our existence.
The Chromatic Desires of Existence
The opening lines of ‘New Year’ whisper promises of life’s vibrant offerings, ‘All I wanted comes in colors, vanish everyday.’ These lyrics aren’t merely poetic; they’re the articulation of an inescapable human condition—the relentless pursuit of ephemeral desires that paint our existence with the promise of fulfillment, only to fade with each day’s passing.
In this context, ‘colors’ become a metaphor for emotions, dreams, and aspirations that we chase incessantly, hoping that the next ‘promise’ we make ourselves will be the one that stays, that defines us. In a confluence of longing and hope, Beach House captures the essence of humanity’s collective chase for meaning.
The Unseen Protagonist: A Portrait Stories Untold
Central to ‘New Year’ is the recurring image of a ‘young girl waiting for a new year.’ This protagonist could be a metaphor for the innocence within or a reflection of ourselves at various junctures in life—poised on the cusp of change, brimming with anticipation for what the ‘new year’ may bring.
Beach House doesn’t just present this character, they ask their audience to ‘see it coming,’ a gentle nudge to become not just observers but participants in the narrative—each of us with our own ‘portrait’ and ‘story’ waiting for the ending of one era and the beginning of another.
Memorable Lines that Echo through Time
‘You were getting stronger, memories again. Now you’re open wider, it’s better this way.’ These lines resonate with a universal truth about growth and the expansion of self that follows. It speaks of embracing one’s history, not with the intent to dwell, but to acknowledge and draw strength from it in facing what’s ahead.
Beach House masterfully uses simplicity to convey complex emotional evolutions. The repetition of ‘it’s better this way’ isn’t just blindly optimistic; it’s an affirmation that comes after the tumultuous work of personal development, a confirmation that openness and reflection are integral to progress.
The Ephemeral and The Eternal: Promises and Letting Go
The duality of ‘keeping promises’ versus the recognition of ‘stranger things will come before you’ encapsulates a compelling dichotomy. We, as humans, cling to certainties—promises we make to ourselves or others—yet the universe invariably delivers the unexpected, the novel, and the unanticipated disruptions that challenge these oaths.
In the haunting repetition of ‘these promises,’ the band etches a profound truth about the fleeting nature of our vows. In a subtle yet impactful way, the song ponders on the necessity of letting go, or at least adapting, our promises in the flow of time where the only constant is change.
Revelations in Personal Musings: ‘Write it in a letter’
‘Write a letter, on the page, in your own way.’ This simple directive commands a powerful act of self-expression. It is an invitation to document one’s journey, thoughts, and feelings as they navigate the personal ‘new years’ of their lives. The song accepts that while these letters—these personal histories—are uniquely individual, the act of writing them is universally cathartic.
By folding this personal act into the song’s narrative, Beach House transcends music: ‘New Year’ becomes a platform for introspection and expression where the process of writing is just as significant as what is written. It’s a testament to the song’s brilliance in finding resonant harmony between the lyrical and the deeply personal.
