Million Years Ago
Adele - 25 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Learning to fly learning to run
I let my heart decide the way
When I was young
Deep down I must have always known
To earn my stripes I'd have to pay
And bare my soul
I know I'm not the only one
Who regrets the things they've done
Sometimes I just feel it's only me
Who can't stand the reflection that they see
I wish I could live a little more
Look up to the sky not just the floor
I feel like my life is flashing by
And all I can do is watch and cry
I miss the air I miss my friends
I miss my mother I miss it when
Life was a party to be thrown
But that was a million years ago
When I walk around all of the streets
Where I grew up and found my feet
They can't look me in the eye
It's like they're scared of me
I try to think of things to say
Like a joke or a memory
But they don't recognise me now
In the light of day
I know I'm not the only one
Who regrets the things they've done
Sometimes I just feel it's only me
Who never became who they thought they'd be
I wish I could live a little more
Look up to the sky not just the floor
I feel like my life is flashing by
And all I can do is watch and cry
I miss the air I miss my friends
I miss my mother I miss it when
Life was a party to be thrown
But that was a million years ago
A million years ago
In "Million Years Ago," Adele reflects on her youth and how much has changed since then. The song expresses a longing for the innocence of the past and the pain of becoming an adult.
The first verse refers to her youth, where she was carefree and enjoying life. She sings about "learning to fly and run," which represents her eagerness to explore life and take risks. She left her heart to decide the way, meaning that she followed her passions without worrying about the consequences. However, she also knew that life was not all fun and games; to achieve success, she had to pay her dues by baring her soul.
In the chorus, Adele reveals that she feels alone in her regrets. She wishes she could live a little more, stop focusing on the ground and start looking up at the sky. She feels that life is passing her by, and all she can do is watch it, wishing to return to the days she misses. The second verse describes Adele's struggle with feeling out of place after achieving success. Despite going back to her roots, people from where she grew up can't recognize her anymore. The song ends with a refrain, emphasizing the feeling of the distant past, with "that was a million years ago."
Line by Line Meaning
I only wanted to have fun
I was young and carefree, only concerned with enjoying myself.
Learning to fly learning to run
I was learning and growing as a person, discovering my passions and developing my skills.
I let my heart decide the way
I followed my instincts and emotions, even if it meant taking risks or going against convention.
When I was young
I was innocent and inexperienced, without the burdens and responsibilities of adulthood.
Deep down I must have always known
Despite my free-spirited attitude, I had a sense that life would become more challenging and uncertain.
That this would be inevitable
I knew that eventually I would face difficult obstacles and have to make tough choices.
To earn my stripes I'd have to pay
In order to prove myself and succeed in life, I would have to work hard and make sacrifices.
And bare my soul
I would have to be vulnerable and honest with myself and others in order to truly grow and learn.
I know I'm not the only one
Many people have experienced regret and uncertainty about their lives.
Who regrets the things they've done
I have made mistakes and wish I could change some of the choices I've made in the past.
Sometimes I just feel it's only me
At times, it feels like no one else understands how I'm feeling or what I'm going through.
Who can't stand the reflection that they see
I am unhappy with who I have become and struggle to see myself in a positive light.
I wish I could live a little more
I long to experience life with the same carefree joy and enthusiasm as when I was younger.
Look up to the sky not just the floor
I want to focus on the possibilities and opportunities in life, rather than just surviving day by day.
I feel like my life is flashing by
Time seems to be moving too quickly, and I worry that I am running out of time to achieve my dreams.
And all I can do is watch and cry
I feel helpless to stop or control the passage of time, and I am filled with sadness and regret.
I miss the air I miss my friends
I long for the freedom and companionship of my youth.
I miss my mother I miss it when
I miss the comfort and security of my childhood, and the times when my mother was there to support me.
Life was a party to be thrown
I used to feel like life was full of exciting possibilities and opportunities.
But that was a million years ago
Those carefree days of my youth feel like they were a very long time ago, and I miss them dearly.
Contributed by Joshua N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.