Before

Emily Robins' song 'Before' delves into the complex emotions of nostalgia and unresolved love. The lyrics paint a picture of someone who is reminiscing about a past relationship, yearning for the connection they once had. The recurring theme of dreams and nighttime suggests a sense of longing that is most potent when the world is quiet, and the mind is free to wander. The line 'Maybe in a dream we shared' indicates that the memories of the past relationship are so vivid that they almost feel like shared dreams, blurring the lines between reality and imagination.

The chorus, with its repetition of 'Used to think that you were everything' and 'Just like it was before,' highlights the speaker's struggle to reconcile their current feelings with the past. There's a sense of questioning and doubt, as seen in the line 'Is it me do you really care?' This suggests that the speaker is unsure whether their feelings are reciprocated or if they are holding onto something that no longer exists. The use of 'before' as a refrain emphasizes the contrast between the past and the present, underscoring the changes that have occurred in the relationship.

The song also touches on the difficulty of moving on, as evidenced by the lines 'But we can't turn back now' and 'Let's make it easy now we know.' These lyrics suggest a recognition that while the past cannot be reclaimed, there is a need to find closure and perhaps a new way forward. The melancholic tone of the song, combined with its introspective lyrics, makes 'Before' a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the passage of time.