Tame Impala’s “Lost in Yesterday” Lyrics Meaning

In this tune, the narrator (Tame Impala) is warning the listener against getting “lost in yesterday”. That is they should not let disappointments from the past worry them in the present day. And he understands that good memories serve a constructive role in life. He also knows that sometimes experiences that seemed bad in the past, as time progresses an individual may come to appreciate them in a more-positive light. 

But to Tame Impala, going through life wishing you could live certain moments over doesn’t seem practical. Rather all recollections of times when a person may have cowered out for instance instead of taking advantage of an opportunity should be ‘erased’. 

So the implied reasoning behind this song is that the band perceives harping on past mistakes as being wrong itself. And also they seem to be under the impression that forgetting about such can be achieved if a person so desires.

Release Date of “Lost in Yesterday”

On 8 January 2020, “Lost in Yesterday” became the fourth single released from Tame Impala’s 2020 album, “The Slow Rush”.

The first three singles from “The Slow Rush” are as follows:

• “Borderline”
• “It Might Be Time”
• “Posthumous Forgiveness“

Creation Credits

The writer and producer of this song is the band’s frontman, Kevin Parker.

Music Video Meaning

Like the song itself, the music video to “Lost in Yesterday” seems to be based on the idea that harping on the past is a less-than-ideal modus operandi. But the way the visual sets about getting this point across is by alluding to the malleable nature of memories. In other words, even the past events which an individual may recollect as being perfect had its fair share of issues. Or rather let’s say in this particular case that different people can attend the same event, and some can walk away happy and satisfied while others sad and disappointed. Or at least that appears to be the general idea that Tame Impala is trying to put across. 

For even at the end of the video, when the recounting of the featured wedding finally reaches the point where not only is there a packed house but everyone inside is having a good time, their happiness is ultimately disturbed in the worst way, apparently by another romantic interest of the groom who was betrayed by him.