Past in Present
Feist Lyrics


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The scarlet letter isn't black
Gotta know who's got your back
Because they're right in front of you
Because they're telling you the truth

So much present inside my present
Inside my present, so, so much past
Inside my present, inside my present
Inside my present, so, so

La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la

Feeling it from dark to bright
When a wrong becomes a right
When a mountain fills with light
It's a volcano, it's a volcano
It's a volcano, it's a volcano

So much present inside my present
Inside my present, so, so much past
Inside my present, inside my present
Inside my present, so, so much past
Inside my present, inside my present
Inside my present, so, so much past




Inside my present, inside my present
Inside my present, so, so

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Feist's "Past in Present" explore the idea that the past is always present within us, even as we try to move forward. The opening lines, "The scarlet letter isn't black / Gotta know who's got your back," suggest that we need to rely on the people who are close to us, who can help us see the truth of our own lives. The scarlet letter, a symbol of shame and punishment, is not just a thing of the past. It's something that can affect us in the present, and we need to have people we can rely on to help us navigate around it.


The chorus of the song repeats the line "So much present inside my present / Inside my present, so, so much past." Feist is acknowledging that the past is always with us, informing our present experiences. She sings about feeling things "from dark to bright," and how a "wrong becomes a right" when we're able to see things in a different light. The image of a mountain filling with light is a metaphor for this kind of transformation, but Feist also recognizes that sometimes the process of change can be volatile, like a volcano.


Overall, "Past in Present" is a meditation on the ways our past experiences shape our present lives. Feist acknowledges that it can be difficult to reconcile those two things, but ultimately suggests that we need to embrace the past in order to move forward into something new.


Line by Line Meaning

The scarlet letter isn't black
Don't assume the worst about someone based on their past mistakes


Gotta know who's got your back
It's important to know who you can trust and rely on


Because they're right in front of you
The people who are truly there for you are obvious and present


Because they're telling you the truth
The people who have your best interests at heart are honest and upfront with you


So much present inside my present
There is so much happening in the present moment that we often overlook


Inside my present, so, so much past
Our past experiences shape who we are and influence our present actions


La, la, la, la
A meaningless, joyful refrain that emphasizes the song's upbeat tone


Feeling it from dark to bright
Life is full of ups and downs, but even the darkest moments can lead to something positive


When a wrong becomes a right
Sometimes what seems like a mistake can turn out to be a valuable lesson


When a mountain fills with light
Even large obstacles can be overcome when approached with a positive, determined attitude


It's a volcano, it's a volcano
Life can be unpredictable and explosive, but that's what makes it exciting


Inside my present, so, so much past
Our past experiences continue to shape our present and future selves


Inside my present, inside my present
Every present moment is filled with layers of past experiences and emotions


Inside my present, so, so much past
Our past can haunt us, but it can also provide valuable perspective and insight


Inside my present, inside my present
Our past emotions and experiences are always present, influencing our thoughts and actions


Inside my present, so, so
Our past experiences are a part of us, but they don't define us completely




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Leslie Feist

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

poetic tam

The scarlet letter isn't black
Gotta know who's got your back
Because they're right in front of you
Because they're telling you the truth
So much present, inside my present
Inside my present so, so much past
Inside my present, inside my present
Inside my present so, so
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
Feeling it from dark to bright
When a wrong becomes a right
When a mountain fills with light
It's a volcano, it's a volcano
It's a volcano, it's a volcano
So much present, inside my present
Inside my present so, so much past
Inside my present, inside my present
Inside my present so, so much past
Inside my present, inside my present
Inside my present so, so much past
Inside my present, inside my present
Inside my present so, so much past



All comments from YouTube:

equidré gykfr

Damn it's been so long since i've heard this song

M Theora

great time to give it another listen now! = )

M Theora

I love this song so much!

Nat

One of my all time favourite songs ever

andrephx90

great song!

poetic tam

The scarlet letter isn't black
Gotta know who's got your back
Because they're right in front of you
Because they're telling you the truth
So much present, inside my present
Inside my present so, so much past
Inside my present, inside my present
Inside my present so, so
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
La, la, la, la
Feeling it from dark to bright
When a wrong becomes a right
When a mountain fills with light
It's a volcano, it's a volcano
It's a volcano, it's a volcano
So much present, inside my present
Inside my present so, so much past
Inside my present, inside my present
Inside my present so, so much past
Inside my present, inside my present
Inside my present so, so much past
Inside my present, inside my present
Inside my present so, so much past

Nuclearmaterial

@blindsquirrelandnoob A damn good song. She's in a few BSS songs, not sure which ones though.

Giovanni Gee

A few? Try several!

Matt Turner

I can't help but think she's saying silent prison when she's saying past and present

Zad Rasera

I thought for a while that it was "inside my prison, inside my prison..."

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