Past Love

Kimbra's song 'Past Love' delves into the emotional turmoil and the journey of healing after a significant relationship has ended. The lyrics reflect a deep sense of loss and the struggle to move on from a past love that continues to haunt the present. The opening lines, 'I don't feel the same / Took all I could take,' set the tone for a narrative of exhaustion and emotional depletion. The mention of 'rapture' seeking her out suggests a longing for a transformative experience to lift her out of her current state of despair.

The recurring theme of 'broken wings, bones of coal' symbolizes the fragility and heaviness that come with heartbreak. Kimbra uses vivid imagery to convey the weight of her sorrow and the difficulty of letting go. The line 'I used to live clinging to his elbows' paints a picture of dependency and the struggle to find independence after the relationship's end. Despite her efforts to 'shake the lie,' she remains trapped in the memories and the 'sheen of every faint glow,' indicating how past love continues to cast a shadow over her life.

The chorus serves as a plea for self-reclamation: 'Past love, come back to yourself / Don't keep reaching out to him, he can't help you now.' This refrain emphasizes the importance of self-healing and the realization that the past cannot provide the solace or closure she seeks. The repetition of 'all you do is cry' underscores the ongoing pain and the need to break free from the cycle of grief. Ultimately, 'Past Love' is a poignant exploration of the process of moving on, urging the listener to find strength within themselves and to embrace the present rather than being anchored by the past.