Memories by Maroon Five
This is a song that most of us, especially middle-aged or older, can relate to. The scene is that a bunch of friends are drinking and reminiscing.
Here’s to the ones that we got
Cheers to the wish you were here, but you’re not
’Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
Of everything we’ve been through
Toast to the ones here today
Toast to the ones that we lost on the way
’Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
And the memories bring back, memories bring back you
They raise a toast to the people that are here with them. They also remember their friends who have passed away and no longer with them. But most of all the poet remembers a special someone. The chain reaction is beautifully captured in the phrases — drinks bring back memories and all his memories are memories of a special someone.
There’s a time that I remember, when I did not know no pain
When I believed in forever, and everything would stay the same
Now my heart feel like December when somebody say your name
’Cause I can’t reach out to call you, but I know I will one day, yeah
When we are young, we feel no pain and we are filled with happy thoughts and cannot believe that the happy times would ever end. December is cold. Also, it is the ‘end’ of a year. Now when someone mentions that special someone’s name the poet feels sad as he cannot reach out or call you. He uses the phrase ‘one day’ to mean in the afterlife.
Everybody hurts sometimes
Everybody hurts someday, ayy ayy
But everything gon’ be alright
Go and raise a glass and say, ayy
Everybody hurts sometime or the other. The idea is not just to dwell on unhappy thoughts. The unhappy times do not last forever and soon there will be some good times.
Here’s to the ones that we got
Cheers to the wish you were…
We should remember our friends who are not here with us. But at the same time, we should not forget to raise the toast and celebrate the friends who are here with us.
Note: Thank you, Jyothi Potluri for introducing me to this song — one of your favorites.
