I've looked
I've seen, I've seen
I've looked
I will always see, I've seen

For the miracles
Of youth
I've looked
I will always see, I've seen

When friends go
Away for a while
They always
Come back

But now if friends
Go away for a while
Then they
Never come back

Overall Meaning

In "VHS Dream," Deerhunter sings about the fragility of relationships and how they change over time. The song's lyrics are somewhat ambiguous, but they seem to express a sense of longing for a time when things were simpler, and the singer feels like he's lost touch with something important. He talks about looking and seeing, perhaps a metaphor for searching for meaning or understanding in his life. He mentions the "miracles of youth," suggesting that he misses the innocence and wonder of childhood.

Later in the song, Deerhunter touches on the idea of lost friendships. The lines "When friends go away for a while, they always come back / But now if friends go away for a while, then they never come back" convey a sense of sadness and regret. The singer seems to be saying that he misses the connections he used to have with others, and he feels like those connections are slipping away.

Overall, "VHS Dream" is a poignant meditation on time and loss. The lyrics are spare and poetic, and they capture a sense of wistful yearning that many listeners will be able to relate to.

Line by Line Meaning

I've looked
I've searched for something

I've seen, I've seen
I've found what I was looking for

I will always see, I've seen
I will never forget what I found

For the miracles
For the wondrous things in life

Of youth
That we experience in our younger years

When friends go
When friends leave

Away for a while
For an extended period of time

They always
They typically

Come back
Return to our lives

But now if friends
But nowadays, when friends

Go away for a while
Leave for an extended period of time