Late To The Party (feat. Declan McKenna)

Orla Gartland's song "Late To The Party (feat. Declan McKenna)" delves into the complexities of romantic relationships, particularly the lingering impact of past lovers. The lyrics reveal a sense of insecurity and frustration as the narrator grapples with the ghosts of their partner's previous relationships. The opening lines set the tone, with the narrator acknowledging the existence of past lovers and the emotional baggage they bring. This acknowledgment is not just a passive acceptance but a source of active concern and comparison, as seen in the line, "I got problems to pick with all your lovers who came before me."

The chorus, with its vivid imagery of the room falling and clinging to a car seat, symbolizes the narrator's feeling of being overwhelmed and out of place. The phrase "late to the party" metaphorically represents the narrator's struggle to fit into a pre-existing narrative shaped by past relationships. The desire to go back and shake the hand of a past lover, thanking her for the damage she's done, is a poignant mix of sarcasm and genuine acknowledgment of the lasting impact these past relationships have on the present.

The song also touches on the cyclical nature of emotional baggage in relationships. The lines "You have it, you pass it on / You want it, until you don't" suggest a pattern where unresolved issues are transferred from one relationship to the next. This idea is further emphasized with the metaphor of a "dress rehearsal of pass the parcel," indicating that emotional problems are handed down like a game, affecting each new relationship. The song captures the struggle of dealing with inherited emotional scars while trying to build a new, healthy relationship.