The Past Comes Back to Haunt Me
Calvin Johnson Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I never should have gone
I know now I was wrong
Broke up without reason
Hearts committing treason

When it's you that I'm wanting
The past comes back to haunt me
There's got to be a way
To have you back again

The games we used to play
The letters you would send
That new look in your eyes
Stops me before I try

I'll never have you near
But don't think I don't care
When it's you that I'm wanting
The past comes back to haunt me

I'm not here to tease you
I just want to see you
But the corner of your eye
Contains a certain smile

Reserved for days gone by
But not for second tries
When it's you that I'm wanting
The past comes back to haunt me





Your heart stares back undaunted
The past comes back, I'm haunted

Overall Meaning

In "The Past Comes Back to Haunt Me," Calvin Johnson reflects on a past relationship that he now realizes he should not have let go. He acknowledges that he broke up without reason and that his heart was committing treason, meaning that he was being disloyal to himself and his true feelings. The song expresses Johnson's desire to have the person he lost back in his life, as he reminisces about the games they used to play and the letters they used to send. However, he is haunted by the thought that the past cannot be undone, and he may never have the chance to be with this person again.


Throughout the lyrics, Johnson uses powerful and emotive language to convey the intensity of his feelings. The repetition of the phrase "When it's you that I'm wanting" highlights the strength of his desire, while the line "Your heart stares back undaunted" conveys a sense of hopelessness and heartache. He recognizes that there is no easy way to go back in time and fix what went wrong, but he cannot help feeling haunted by the past.


Overall, "The Past Comes Back to Haunt Me" is a beautifully melancholic song that poignantly captures the regret and longing that come with lost love. It is a deeply introspective track that many listeners can relate to, and its somber yet captivating melody is sure to leave a lasting impression.


Line by Line Meaning

I never should have gone
I regret leaving and realize my mistake


I know now I was wrong
I understand that what I did was not right


Broke up without reason
We ended our relationship without a clear cause


Hearts committing treason
Our love turned against us and caused our separation


When it's you that I'm wanting
My desire for you is too strong to ignore


The past comes back to haunt me
Memories of our past relationship keep troubling me


There's got to be a way
I hope there is a solution to our issues


To have you back again
I long to be with you once more


The games we used to play
We had enjoyable activities we did together


The letters you would send
I miss the sweet notes and messages you wrote to me


That new look in your eyes
I noticed a change in your expression that intrigued me


Stops me before I try
My fear of rejection prevents me from taking any action


I'll never have you near
I have accepted that we are not meant to be together


But don't think I don't care
I still have strong feelings for you despite our separation


I'm not here to tease you
I am not playing games or leading you on


I just want to see you
I miss your presence in my life


But the corner of your eye
I notice the subtle gestures and expressions you make


Contains a certain smile
Your smile shows a hint of fondness for our past


Reserved for days gone by
That smile is only for the memories of our past relationship


But not for second tries
You are not interested in giving our relationship another chance


Your heart stares back undaunted
Your emotions are steady and unaffected by my presence


The past comes back, I'm haunted
The memories of our past keep haunting me, making it hard to move on




Contributed by Maya O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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

More Versions