Like It Tends To Do

Lizzy McAlpine's song "Like It Tends To Do" delves into the complexities and uncertainties of a relationship that has undergone significant changes. The lyrics capture a sense of confusion and nostalgia, as the narrator grapples with the altered dynamics between them and their partner. The opening lines, "I don't know where we stand anymore / We have cordial conversations," set the tone for the song, highlighting the superficiality of their current interactions and the internal struggle to maintain a semblance of normalcy. This sense of disorientation is further emphasized by the line, "I don't know what to do with my hands anymore," symbolizing the narrator's loss of direction and purpose within the relationship.

The chorus poses hypothetical scenarios, questioning how the two would interact if they were physically in the same space. The lines, "Would we be in separate corners? / Would I actively avoid you?" suggest a fear of confrontation and a desire to avoid the discomfort of facing the reality of their changed relationship. The uncertainty of whether things would feel the same or if everything has irrevocably changed is a recurring theme, encapsulated in the line, "Would it feel like it felt when we had nothing to lose / Or would everything have changed / Like it tends to do?" This reflects the natural progression of relationships and the inevitability of change, whether for better or worse.

In the final verse, the narrator reflects on their own stagnation, standing in the same room while others come and go. The line, "I've stopped hoping they'll be you," indicates a resignation to the fact that their partner is no longer a part of their life. The poignant realization that the partner no longer visits, but did so before a significant change, underscores the finality of their separation. The song's exploration of the passage of time and the evolution of relationships is both relatable and deeply emotional, capturing the bittersweet nature of moving on and the lingering hope for what once was.