After Dark
1st Vows Lyrics

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And how I'd love to stay
Living out here where there's water
Can't get away

She's a lot to take
In on the days when
You're over and done

I just don't want to say
That its been over
For the plan was to cover me here

You probably won't find me after dark
Because I always pretend like I'm having a ball
I'm sneaking out the back, trip the alarm
I might as well have just stayed at home

I swear the death of me
I'll find a way to feel the love
I've been bathing in

‘Cause there's a difference
Between what you know
And what you're letting in

And it's embarrassing

When I'm bitchin' bout you here
I'm always in the mirror

Overall Meaning

The song "After Dark" by 1st Vows portrays a sense of longing for love and escape from the present life. The first lines express a desire to stay, to live by the water, but an inability to leave, indicating a sense of being trapped. The next line, "She's a lot to take," refers to a person, presumably a lover, who can be overwhelming at times. The line "I just don't want to say that it's been over" implies that the relationship may have run its course, but the singer is hesitant to end it or acknowledge that it is over.

The chorus of the song talks about how the singer is pretending to have a good time when they go out at night. They are faking their emotions and putting on a façade, but they cannot truly escape their unhappy reality because they always end up sneaking out and returning home. The line "I swear the death of me, I'll find a way to feel the love I've been bathing in" is a reference to the idea that the singer is searching for a way to maintain the happiness that they feel at times, even when they are not truly feeling it. The next line, "Cause there's a difference between what you know and what you're letting in," highlights the discrepancy between what the singer knows to be true and what they want to believe about their life and love. The song ends with the line "I'm always in the mirror," which indicates that the singer is always reflecting on their life and trying to understand themselves.

Line by Line Meaning

And how I'd love to stay
Expressing a desire to remain where they are located

Living out here where there's water
Enjoying the surrounding environment of water

Can't get away
Feeling trapped and unable to leave

She's a lot to take
Referring to a difficult person to handle

In on the days when
Particularly on the days when

You're over and done
When a situation is finished and unresolved

I just don't want to say
Unwilling to admit something

That its been over
Acknowledging that something is finished

For the plan was to cover me here
Referring to a previous intention to stay in the current location

You probably won't find me after dark
Not being present or visible at nighttime hours

Because I always pretend like I'm having a ball
Faking enjoyment of the situation