When

Shania Twain's song 'When' is a poignant exploration of longing and the seemingly impossible conditions required for a lost love to return. The lyrics are filled with whimsical and fantastical imagery, such as elephants flying and cows jumping over the moon, to illustrate the improbability of reconciliation. Twain uses these metaphors to express a deep sense of pessimism and resignation, suggesting that the chances of rekindling the relationship are as unlikely as these fantastical events occurring.

The chorus of the song further emphasizes this theme by listing a series of utopian conditions—money growing on trees, universal peace, and free happiness—that would need to be met for the love to be restored. These conditions are clearly unattainable, reinforcing the idea that the singer's hopes for reconciliation are unrealistic. The repetition of the questions 'When will I wake up? Why did we break up? When will we make up?' underscores the emotional turmoil and confusion experienced by the singer, who is grappling with the end of a significant relationship.

Twain also injects a touch of nostalgia and wishful thinking into the song by referencing cultural icons like Elvis Presley and The Beatles. The idea of Elvis living again and The Beatles reuniting for a tour serves as a metaphor for the singer's desire to return to a happier, more innocent time. This longing for the past adds another layer of depth to the song, highlighting the universal human experience of yearning for what once was but can never be again. Through 'When,' Shania Twain masterfully captures the essence of heartache and the elusive nature of lost love, wrapped in a blend of whimsical fantasy and poignant reality.