The band name comes from a minor character in Tim Burton's Pee-Wee's Big Adventure.
A mini-album 'Verses of Comfort, Assurance, and Salvation' was followed in early 2007 by 'The Bird of Music', on the Moshi Moshi label.
Myspace profile: http://www.myspace.com/aurevoirsimone
Back In Time
Au Revoir Simone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If we could go back in time (When you know you know it)
Do you think (Listen now, listen now)
That I'd like you then (I will look for you there)
Would you try (when you see, you see it)
Not to be so mean (when you see, you see it)
And we'd ne- (Won't be long, it won't be long)
Do you think (When you know you know it)
If we could go back in time (When you know you know it)
Do you think (Listen now, listen now)
That I liked you there (I will look for you there)
Won't you try (when you see, you see it)
Not to be so mean (when you see, you see it)
And we're now (Won't be long, it won't be long)
For just be friends (I will wait for you there)
There are times that I
Felt that this was right
There are times that I
Felt that this was right
Why do you think
This will never work
Why do you think
This will never work
There are times that I
Felt that this was right
There are times that I
Felt that this was right
Why do you think
This will never work
Why do you think
This will never work
The lyrics of Au Revoir Simone's song Back In Time suggest a wish to go back to a past relationship and make things right. The song is a conversation with a former lover, wondering if things would have been different if they were given a second chance. The first verse highlights the uncertainty of whether they would have liked each other back then, and the second verse suggests that the past relationship was possibly ruined by one person's meanness. The chorus repeats the desire to go back in time and try to be friends, with a determination to wait for the chance.
The last section of the song, which repeats the lines "There are times that I felt that this was right" and "Why do you think this will never work" emphasize the frustration that comes with the end of a relationship that was once believed to be right. The questions left hanging in the air suggest an attempt to understand what went wrong and the inability to move on.
Overall, the lyrics of Back In Time convey a sense of longing, regret, and an unwillingness to let go of a past relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you think (When you know you know it)
Asking if you believe that something is true when you know it is true
If we could go back in time (When you know you know it)
If time travel was possible, and you were sure about something, would you go back in time?
Do you think (Listen now, listen now)
Asking if you think of something when you hear it now
That I'd like you then (I will look for you there)
Asking if you believe that you would have liked someone in the past, and that you would try to find them there
Would you try (when you see, you see it)
Asking if you could make an effort to change your behavior
Not to be so mean (when you see, you see it)
Asking if you could try not to be cruel or hurtful to others
And we'd never just be friends (I will wait for you there)
Asking if you feel like you could only ever be more than friends with someone, and that you would wait for them
Do you think (When you know you know it)
Asking if you believe that something is true when you know it is true
If we could go back in time (When you know you know it)
If time travel was possible, and you were sure about something, would you go back in time?
Do you think (Listen now, listen now)
Asking if you think of something when you hear it now
That I liked you there (I will look for you there)
Asking if you believe that you would have liked someone in the past, and that you would try to find them there
Won't you try (when you see, you see it)
Asking if you could make an effort to change your behavior
Not to be so mean (when you see, you see it)
Asking if you could try not to be cruel or hurtful to others
And we're now (Won't be long, it won't be long)
Suggesting that they are currently waiting for each other and it won't be long until they meet again
For just be friends (I will wait for you there)
Suggesting that, for now, they are willing to be just friends and wait for each other
There are times that I
Reflecting on the times when they felt something was right
Felt that this was right
Believing that something was right
Why do you think
Asking for reasons or explanations
This will never work
Expressing doubts that something will work out
Contributed by Camilla G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.