Postcards from Italy
Florence the Machine Lyrics

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The times we had
Oh when the wind would blow with rain and snow
Were not all bad
We put our feet just where they had, had to go
Never to go

The shattered soul
Following close but nearly twice as slow

In my good times
There were always golden rocks to throw
At those who admit defeat too late
Those were our times, those were our times

And I will love to see that day
That day was mine
When she will marry me outside by the willow trees
And play the songs we made
They made me so

And I would love to see that day
Her day was mine

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Florence + the Machine's "Postcards from Italy" are rich in imagery and metaphor, and evoke a sense of nostalgia for a time and place that the singer looks back on with both fondness and longing. The verses convey a sense of wistfulness for a time in the past, characterized by rainy and snowy weather, but also marked by adventure and the freedom to follow one's instincts without hesitation. The singer refers to "golden rocks to throw," suggesting a kind of playfulness and youthful exuberance that characterized this time in their life.

The chorus of the song shifts to a more romantic and hopeful tone, as the singer imagines a future in which they will be married to the one they love, surrounded by nature and the music that they have created together. The use of the phrase "her day was mine" suggests a merging of identities and a shared sense of purpose and destiny.

Overall, the song can be read as a meditation on the complexities of memory and the ways in which the past can both haunt and inspire us. The images of postcards and travel evoke a sense of transience and impermanence, while the longing for connection and belonging speaks to a deeper human need for meaning and purpose.

Line by Line Meaning

The times we had
Reflecting on memories of the past

Oh when the wind would blow with rain and snow
Despite adverse weather conditions, we persisted

Were not all bad
Acknowledging the good moments from the past

We put our feet just where they had, had to go
We followed the path we were meant to take

Never to go
Always moving forward and never turning back

The shattered soul
A broken and wounded spirit

Following close but nearly twice as slow
Struggling to keep up and feeling left behind

In my good times
Reminiscing about a more positive period

There were always golden rocks to throw
Opportunities to succeed were plentiful

At those who admit defeat too late
Making fun of those who give up too easily

Those were our times, those were our times
Highlighting the positive aspects of the past