Drift Away (feat. Sarah Stiles)

“Drift Away (feat. Sarah Stiles)” by Steven Universo is a poignant exploration of loneliness, abandonment, and the passage of time. The song is set in a garden, a place often associated with growth and life, yet here it becomes a backdrop for a game that turns into a metaphor for emotional distance. The initial verses describe a seemingly joyful interaction, where the protagonist is captivated by another's smile and laughter. However, this happiness is fleeting, as the person they cherish begins to drift away, both physically and emotionally.

As the song progresses, the tone shifts to one of solitude and introspection. The protagonist finds themselves alone under an endless sky, counting seconds and wondering if they are doing things right. This imagery of waiting and the passage of thousands of years highlights a deep sense of abandonment and the relentless march of time. The repetition of “happily” becomes increasingly ironic, underscoring the protagonist's growing realization of their isolation.

The latter part of the song delves into the painful acknowledgment that the person they cared for has moved on, leaving them behind. The lines “You keep on turning pages for people who don't care” and “Everyone's gone on without you” emphasize the protagonist's feelings of being forgotten and unimportant. The final verses reveal the ultimate cruelty: the person they waited for no longer exists in the same way, having been replaced by new relationships and experiences. The protagonist's realization that they have been a fool for waiting so long adds a layer of tragic self-awareness to the song, making it a deeply emotional and relatable narrative about the pain of unreciprocated devotion and the inevitability of change.