Once it's life's fortunate
Isn't this so
The unreflected feeling
Of a shortened final soul
The life that cuts the cold
Now is in your past
In our memories
We don't have much to say
We don't have much to say
We don't have much
Follow anybody
Is that what you do
Maybe it transfits
Done something else with you
Now we know what we'll be in the past
Another story
Another life that's left
Another life that's left

Overall Meaning

The song Unreflected by Mazzy Star is a hauntingly introspective song about the fleeting nature of life and how it rushes by with abandon. The opening lines "Once it's life's fortunate, Isn't this so", convey a sense of wonder at the fortunate circumstances that have given us life. The lyrics continue to emphasize the ephemeral nature of existence, "The unreflected feeling, of a shortened final soul, the life that cuts the cold, now is in your past."

The song acknowledges the inevitability of death and how it impacts our loved ones. "In our memories, we don't have much to say", speaks to the limitations of memory when trying to capture the fullness of a person's life. As the song progresses, it takes a reflective turn, asking the listener whether they follow anybody and suggesting that perhaps there is more to life than that. "Maybe it transits, done something else with you, now we know what we'll be in the past, another story, another life that's left." The song ultimately suggests that life is precious, but fleeting, and that we should be mindful of how we spend our time.

Line by Line Meaning

Once it's life's fortunate
Life may seem fortunate at times

Isn't this so
Isn't this the truth?

The unreflected feeling
The feeling of not being able to reflect on life

Of a shortened final soul
Of a soul that has a shortened life

The life that cuts the cold
Life can cut through the coldness or harshness of the world

Now is in your past
The present becomes the past in a blink of an eye

In our memories
The only place where the past remains unchanged

We don't have much to say
Words may not be enough to capture the essence of the past

We don't have much to say
The past may be too overwhelming to articulate

We don't have much
We don't have much control over what remains of the past

Follow anybody
Following someone else may be a way to find meaning in life