40 Days

Slowdive's '40 Days' is a hauntingly beautiful exploration of longing, disconnection, and the passage of time. The song opens with the protagonist expressing a deep sense of missing someone over a span of forty days. This period of separation has left them feeling disoriented and mentally adrift, as indicated by the line 'I'm so high that I've lost my mind.' The mention of summer evokes a sense of nostalgia, suggesting that the protagonist is reminiscing about happier times spent with the person they miss.

The recurring lines 'If I saw something new, I guess I wouldn't worry' and 'I guess I wouldn't care' hint at a sense of stagnation and a yearning for change. The protagonist seems to be stuck in a loop of repetitive emotions and experiences, unable to move forward or find something that could distract them from their feelings of loss. This sense of inertia is further emphasized by the lines 'You said you're always sleeping, but if so, I'll be leaving,' which suggest a disconnect between the protagonist and the person they miss, possibly due to differing emotional states or levels of engagement.

The chorus, with its repeated focus on the way the person smiles, adds a layer of bittersweet affection to the song. The protagonist finds solace and joy in the memory of the person's smile, even as they grapple with their own feelings of inadequacy and sadness. The repeated phrase 'I don't know' underscores the uncertainty and confusion that permeate the song, reflecting the protagonist's struggle to make sense of their emotions and the situation they find themselves in. Overall, '40 Days' captures the complex interplay of longing, nostalgia, and emotional disconnection in a way that is both poignant and relatable.