the older you get, the less you cry
Lany
The Bittersweet Evolution of Love and Resilience
Lany's song "the older you get, the less you cry" delves into the emotional journey of growing up and the inevitable changes in how we experience love and loss. The lyrics reflect on the singer's youthful romance at seventeen, where he had to choose between his dreams and his love. This early relationship, marked by passion and heartbreak, left a lasting impact on him, symbolizing the innocence and intensity of young love. The line "I fell for the wrong girl, the type to start a fire and leave you there to burn" poignantly captures the pain of betrayal and the harsh lessons learned from it.
As the song progresses, the singer grapples with the difficulty of maintaining relationships and the emotional toll it takes. The repeated questioning of "How does anyone make it out better?" and "How does anyone keep it forever?" highlights the struggle to find lasting love and the disillusionment that often accompanies it. The chorus, with its wistful longing to love like he did when he was young, underscores the theme of lost innocence and the hardening of the heart over time. The phrase "The older you get, the less you cry" serves as a bittersweet acknowledgment of emotional resilience and the numbing effect of repeated heartbreaks.
The song also touches on regret and the desire to undo past mistakes. The lines "I wish I didn't give all of me away" and "I'd take back the things that I wish I didn't say" reveal a deep sense of remorse and the longing for a second chance. Despite the growing emotional detachment, the singer is not ready to give up on love entirely, though he admits to having little left to give. This juxtaposition of hope and resignation encapsulates the complex emotions that come with age and experience, making the song a poignant reflection on the evolution of love and resilience.