By Now

Alec Benjamin's song "By Now" delves into the haunting persistence of past love. The lyrics poignantly capture the struggle of moving on from a relationship that continues to linger in the mind and heart, despite the passage of time. The opening lines, "Isn't it strange how nothing's changed? How it's been years and years and you're still in my brain?" set the tone for a narrative of emotional stagnation. The wounds may have healed, but the pain remains, suggesting that the memories of this past love are deeply ingrained and resistant to the healing process.

The song employs vivid metaphors to illustrate the omnipresence of this lost love. Descriptions like "You're the blue song on my red guitar" and "Raindrop on my brand-new car" evoke a sense of intrusion and disruption. These metaphors paint a picture of a love that is out of place, yet impossible to ignore, much like a roadblock on a fresh strip of highway. The recurring imagery of a "speck of gray" on a sunny day further emphasizes the idea of an unwelcome shadow cast over the narrator's life, symbolizing the emotional baggage that hinders their progress.

The chorus, with its repetitive lines "Don't know what to do, should be over you by now," underscores the frustration and confusion of the narrator. The repetition mirrors the cyclical nature of their thoughts and feelings, trapped in a loop of longing and regret. Despite the passage of time, the narrator finds themselves unable to move on, highlighting the enduring impact of this past relationship. Alec Benjamin's emotive delivery and the song's melancholic melody enhance the sense of unresolved heartache, making "By Now" a relatable anthem for anyone grappling with the ghosts of their past.