Barely Recognize You
Elysian Fields Lyrics


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Feel like I waited forever for you to arrive
You look too long perhaps you lost your drive
You were touched by too many hands
Why'd you get soft, I can't understand
They made you aplologize
I can barely recognize you
You know death should inspire you
You let his love paralyze you

You followed their flags
Now you're flapping in the rain
You took the main drag, denying the coarse terrain
You were once a firebrand
How'd you burn out
I don't understand

You brought me liberation
Fought the contamination




You left a trail like dillinger
Then you joined the congregation

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Barely Recognize You" by Elysian Fields speak to someone who has changed and lost their fire. The singer feels like they have been waiting forever for this person to arrive but is disappointed by what they see. The person looks too long, as if they have lost their drive, and have been touched by too many hands which has made them soft. The singer does not understand why this person has had to apologize and they can barely recognize them anymore.


The song continues with the singer talking about how the person followed flags and now they are flapping in the rain. They took the main drag but denied the coarse terrain. The person used to be a firebrand but have burned out and the singer cannot comprehend how this has happened. The person brought the singer liberation and fought contamination, but they have since joined a congregation and left a trail like Dillinger.


Overall, the song speaks to someone who has lost their passion and drive in life. They have conformed to society's expectations and have lost their individuality. The singer speaks to the disappointment and confusion that comes with seeing someone you once admired become unrecognizable.


Line by Line Meaning

Feel like I waited forever for you to arrive
I have been eagerly waiting for your arrival, for a very long time


You look too long perhaps you lost your drive
You seem lost and disoriented, which might be causing you to lack motivation


You were touched by too many hands
You have been influenced and affected by too many people and their opinions


Why'd you get soft, I can't understand
I don't understand why you have become weak and feeble, mentally or physically


They made you apologize
They forced you to apologize against your will


I can barely recognize you
You have changed so much that I can hardly recognize you


You know death should inspire you
You should be motivated by the fact that you have been given a second chance at life, after coming close to death


You let his love paralyze you
You have become so obsessed with someone's love that it has stopped you from moving forward in life


You followed their flags
You blindly followed someone else's beliefs or ideas


Now you're flapping in the rain
Now you are struggling to deal with the difficult situations in life


You took the main drag, denying the coarse terrain
You chose to take the easier but more crowded path, ignoring the bumpy road filled with obstacles


You were once a firebrand
You used to be passionate, energetic and enthusiastic, ready to take on the world


How'd you burn out, I don't understand
I don't understand how you lost your spark and energy


You brought me liberation
You helped me achieve freedom and independence


Fought the contamination
You fought against the polluting and harmful elements that were affecting us


You left a trail like Dillinger
You left behind a noticeable and impressive path or legacy, just like a notorious criminal


Then you joined the congregation
You became a part of a larger group or community, losing your individuality in the process




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