Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

Don't Look Back
She & Him Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Orpheus melted the heart of Persephone,
But I never had yours
I followed you back to the end of the path,
But I never found the door

And you can work to save your love
You can bear it from the earth below

You can work but you can't let go
Oh, oh but you have to know

Don't look back all you'll ever get
Is the dust from the steps before
I don't have to see you every day,
But I just want to know you're there

Quietly took to the dark of the day
And the hiss of the summer night
The heat of the breeze was a cell block wall
And when I looked you were out of sight

And you can work to save your love
You can bear it from the earth below

You can work but you can't let go
Oh, oh but you have to know

Don't look back all you'll ever get
Is the dust from the steps before
I don't have to see you every day,
But I just want to know you're there

And you can work to save your love
You can bear it from the earth below

You can work but you can't let go
Oh, oh but you have to know

Don't look back all you'll ever get
Is the dust from the steps before
I don't have to see you every day,
But I just want to know you're there

Don't look back all you'll ever get
Is the dust from the steps before
I don't have to see you every day,
But I just want to know you're there

Don't look back all you'll ever get
Is the dust from the steps before
I don't have to see you every day,
But I just want to know you're there

Don't look back all you'll ever get
Is the dust from the steps before

Overall Meaning

In She & Him's song "Don't Look Back," the lyrics seem to allude to the Greek myth of Orpheus and Persephone. Orpheus was said to be able to charm anyone with his music, including the queen of the underworld, Persephone. However, in this version, the singer laments that she was never able to melt the heart of her lover in the same way that Orpheus melted Persephone's heart. She followed her lover to the end of the path, but was unable to find the door.


The lyrics suggest that the singer is willing to do whatever it takes to save her love, but is also aware that she cannot force her lover to love her in return. She urges her lover not to look back, as they will only receive dust from the steps before. She doesn't need to see her lover every day, but she wants to know that they are there.


In a broader sense, the song seems to be about the complexities of love and the pain that can come with unrequited love. The singer recognizes that it is impossible to force someone to love you, even if you are willing to work and sacrifice for that love. At the same time, there is a sense of longing and hopefulness in the song, as the singer holds out hope that her love will one day be returned.


Line by Line Meaning

Orpheus melted the heart of Persephone,
Orpheus, a mythical figure known for his music, was able to move Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld, with his song. However, despite my efforts, I was never able to move your heart.


But I never had yours
Despite my attempts to win your love, I was never able to capture your heart.


I followed you back to the end of the path,
I pursued you relentlessly, never giving up until we reached the end of the road.


But I never found the door
No matter how far I followed you, I was never able to enter your heart.


And you can work to save your love
You can put in effort to hold on to love and keep it alive.


You can bear it from the earth below
You can endure the struggle and pain to keep love alive.


You can work but you can't let go
Even when it seems impossible to hold on, you cannot let go of love.


Oh, oh but you have to know
You need to be aware of the cost of holding onto love relentlessly.


Don't look back all you'll ever get
If you persist in pursuing love that's not reciprocated, all you'll obtain is the remnants of what was already there.


Is the dust from the steps before
The only thing that remains is the memory of what was done before, like a trail of dust.


I don't have to see you every day,
I don't need to have constant contact with you to be content.


But I just want to know you're there
I want you to be a constant presence in my life, even if it's not always direct interaction.


Quietly took to the dark of the day
We retreated away from others, choosing to be alone in the dark and quiet times.


And the hiss of the summer night
The sound of the warm summer night was a background to our moments together.


The heat of the breeze was a cell block wall
The seemingly pleasant wind was actually constraining us, keeping us in a confined space.


And when I looked you were out of sight
When I turned to look for you, you had already disappeared from my view.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ZOOEY DESCHANEL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@lucass8381

(Lyrics)

Orpheus melted the heart of Persephone
But I never had yours
I followed you back to end of the path
But I never found the door

And you can work to save your love
You can bear it from the earth below
You can work but you can't let go
Oh, oh but you have to know

Don't look back
All you'll ever get
Is the dust from the steps before
I don't have to see you every day
But I just wanna know you're there

Quietly took to the dark of the day
And the hiss of the summer night
The heat of the breeze was a cell block wall
And when I looked you were out of sight

And you can work to save your love
You can bear it from the earth below
You can work but you can't let go
Oh, oh but you have to know

Don't look back
All you'll ever get
Is the dust from the steps before
I don't have to see you every day
But I just wanna know you're there

And you can work to save your love
You can bear it from the earth below
You can work but you can't let go
Oh, oh but you have to know

Don't look back
All you'll ever get
Is the dust from the steps before
I don't have to see you every day
But I just wanna know you're there

Don't look back
All you'll ever get
Is the dust from the steps before
I don't have to see you every day
But I just wanna know you're there

Don't look back
All you'll ever get
Is the dust from the steps before
I don't have to see you every day
But I just wanna know you're there

Don't look back
All you'll ever get
Is the dust from the steps before



@ceciliabastida5927

Orpheus melted the heart of Persephone
But I never had yours
I followed you back to end of the path
But I never found the door

And you can work to save your love
You can bear it from the earth below
You can work but you can't let go
Oh, oh but you have to know

Don't look back
All you'll ever get
Is the dust from the steps before
I don't have to see you every day
But I just wanna know you're there

Quietly took to the dark of the day
And the hiss of the summer night
The heat of the breeze was a cell block wall
And when I looked you were out of sight

And you can work to save your love
You can bear it from the earth below
You can work but you can't let go
Oh, oh but you have to know

Don't look back
All you'll ever get
Is the dust from the steps before
I don't have to see you every day
But I just wanna know you're there

And you can work to save your love
You can bear it from the earth below
You can work but you can't let go
Oh, oh but you have to know

Don't look back
All you'll ever get
Is the dust from the steps before
I don't have to see you every day
But I just wanna know you're there

Don't look back
All you'll ever get
Is the dust from the steps before
I don't have to see you every day
But I just wanna know you're there

Don't look back
All you'll ever get
Is the dust from the steps before
I don't have to see you every day
But I just wanna know you're there

Don't look back
All you'll ever get
Is the dust from the steps before



@kellykitkat40

If fashion and fads did not exist, if furniture, clothing, dances, ties, length of skirts, did not
change - then I guess the number of choices would explode. Some would be wearing
Victorian outfits, others French Renaissance, and yet others, 70s bell bottom polyester
leisure suits. It would be quite noisy. And so, modes change with time, rather than space,
or region - unless somebody stands out, and then people assume he is either a foreigner,
or a trend-setter, possibly a celebrity or artist - one of those social engineers working on creating the next decade. The rebellious attitude as depicted in the movie, The Wild One (Brando) remains, but those biker jackets - are very rare - they simply did not "catch on" like
the T-shirt, first popularized by James Dean, though introduced to audiences by Clark Gable.
Behold, what the man wears under his shirt - another shirt. Rudolph Valentino must have
thought, Has the world gone mad? Why would a man wear another garment under his
shirt? Is chastity back? Gable, you fool, this will never sell. ... TIMELESS - that never goes
out of style. The long kiss ...



All comments from YouTube:

@flash37

I always wonder how do they make this authentic sound. I respect Zooey for her dedication to non-commercial style.

@tipi5586

It was commercial for the 1960s. It's now so old that it's an antique, and thus, appreciable again.

@ManuelaMoraes

I've been obsessed with this song for almost 10 years. It just NEVER gets old *pun intended*! <3

@butterpecan1938

Me too!! Heard it in Banana Republic and instantly loved it!

@kevinshannon7117

I just heard it , for the first time tonight and I'm already obsessed with it AND her (she)!!!

@tommyl.dayandtherunaways820

The 60s style is the pinnacle of pop music in my opinion, there’s a reason it always sounds fresh and exciting, no matter the era. Love She and Him and hope they’ll keep making new LPs.

@nonjaninja4904

Zooey is illegal levels of cute. She's like the American Audrey Hepburn.

@rosajimenez7777

yes

@TacShooter

I was just going to say that she is so cute it hurts.

@johnnyp8979

Better !
IMO, there's NO comparison 😁

More Comments

More Versions