Those Memories
The Brian Jonestown Massacre Lyrics
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Of you still haunt me
Every night
When I lay down
I'll always love you
Little darlin'
Until the day
They lay me down
In dreams of you
My body trembles
I wake up
And call your name
But you're not there
And I'm so lonesome
Without your love
I'll go insane
I'll go insane
(I'm going insane)
I close my eyes
And you're there with me
Your kiss I feel
Your face I see
It's not your touch, girl
That's driving me crazy
It's just those lonesome memories
Those memories
Those memories
The Brian Jonestown Massacre‘s song Those Memories is an emotional ballad about facing the memories of a past lover. The song invokes a melancholic longing for a love that has passed. The lyrics emphasize the inescapable nature of past love, even as the present reality continues to be brutally lonely. Anton Newcombe‘s voice sounds sorrowful, and lyrics such as “those memories of you still haunt me every night when I lay down”, “in dreams of you my body trembles”, and “it’s not your touch, girl, that’s driving me crazy” underscores the all-consuming power of the past.
The lyrics also suggest how intense emotional experiences can remain long after the person has moved on. They are perfectly encapsulated in the chorus when he sings, “those memories, those memories, those memories” which emphasizes the repeated nature of memories as they continue to intrude upon us. However, there is also a sense that the singer is chasing the ghost of the past or even trying to reanimate it in the present. “I close my eyes and you’re there with me, your kiss I feel, your face I see” demonstrates how, in the present, the memories of that lover can be all-encompassing. And despite the pain of being haunted by memories, the singer can’t help but hold on to the memory of his lover because “I’ll always love you, little darlin’, until the day they lay me down.”
Line by Line Meaning
Those memories
The memories of a past love
Of you still haunt me
They continue to affect me deeply
Every night
Daily, without interruption
When I lay down
When I prepare to sleep
I'll always love you
My feelings for you will never fade
Little darlin'
An affectionate term of endearment
Until the day
For an indefinite amount of time
They lay me down
Until I die
In dreams of you
When I dream about you
My body trembles
I experience physical reactions
I wake up
When I come out of sleep
And call your name
I involuntarily verbalize your name
But you're not there
You are not present in my reality
And I'm so lonesome
I feel a deep sense of sadness and isolation
Without your love
In the absence of your affection
I'll go insane
I will become mentally unstable
(I'm going insane)
I am currently experiencing mental instability
I close my eyes
I shut my eyes
And you're there with me
You exist in my imagination
Your kiss I feel
I experience the sensation of your kiss
Your face I see
I perceive the image of your face
It's not your touch, girl
My mental state is not affected by your physical touch
That's driving me crazy
It is the intangible memories of you that are causing my instability
It's just those lonesome memories
The source of my instability is solely the memories of you
Those memories
The memories of a past love
Those memories
The memories of a past love
Those memories
The memories of a past love
Contributed by Gabriella P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.