Styles and songwriter/producer Kid Harpoon first worked together on Styles' self-titled debut album (2017) on two songs: "Carolina" and "Sweet Creature". He would also become later the music director of Styles' first world solo tour. While working on his second album, Styles was seeing in the studio working on new music with Harpoon on 15 May 2019. While talking about Styles and the recording process of the album, Harpoon claimed: "He's got this wise-beyond-his-years timelessness about him. That's why he went on a whole emotional exploration with these songs. He went through this breakup that had a big impact on him." Harpoon then suggested Styles to write about his feelings towards it, saying:" He had a whole emotional journey about her, this whole relationship. But I kept saying, 'The best way of dealing with it is to put it in these songs you're writing.'" Regarding "Falling" in particular, he told: " Harry lives round the corner from me in LA and one day he wanted a lift somewhere, so I popped up there and he was getting out of the shower. I started playing piano while I was waiting for him, he was singing and in an hour we had written 'Falling'." The song was eventually released as the album's third single on 7 March 2020 to UK adult contemporary stations.
"Falling" debuted at number 39 on the UK Singles Chart and later peaked at number 15, making it the fourth song from Fine Line to chart in the UK top 20. In November 2020, it received a platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for selling 600,000 units in the UK. In the US, "Falling" was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of 1 million track-equivalent units.
Falling
Harry Styles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you're not here
And there's no one to blame
But the drink in my wandering hands
Forget what I said
It's not what I meant
And I can't take it back
I can't unpack the baggage you left
What am I now?
What am I now?
What if I'm someone I don't want around?
I'm fallin' again
I'm fallin' again
I'm fallin'
What if I'm down?
What if I'm out?
What if I'm someone you won't talk about?
I'm fallin' again
I'm fallin' again
I'm fallin'
You said you cared
And you missed me, too
And I'm well aware
I write too many songs about you
And the coffee's out
At the Beachwood Café
And it kills me 'cause I know
We've run out of things we can say
What am I now?
What am I now?
What if I'm someone I don't want around?
I'm fallin' again
I'm fallin' again
I'm fallin'
What if I'm down?
What if I'm out?
What if I'm someone you won't talk about?
I'm fallin' again
I'm fallin' again
I'm fallin'
And I get the feelin' that you'll never need me again
What am I now?
What am I now?
What if you're someone I just want around?
I'm fallin' again
I'm fallin' again
I'm fallin'
What if I'm down?
What if I'm out?
What if I'm someone you won't talk about?
I'm fallin' again
I'm fallin' again
I'm fallin'
In "Falling," Harry Styles sings about falling for someone he can't have and the pain that comes in the aftermath of their departure. He starts by acknowledging that he's alone in his bed and that he can't help but blame the drink in his hands for how he's feeling. He then goes on to say he's fallen again and he's afraid of becoming someone he doesn't want to be. He wonders aloud if he's down or out and if his special someone won't talk about him. He reflects on their past and wishes he could take it all back. He gets the sense that he'll never be needed again.
Overall, "Falling" is a song that speaks to the complicated emotions that come in the aftermath of a breakup. Harry Styles is asking himself who he is now that his person is gone. He's worried that he'll never be able to find someone who'll love him the way they did. This song is a powerful reminder that love is a complex and often painful experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in my bed
I'm alone and in my own space
And you're not here
The person I want is not with me
And there's no one to blame
I cannot blame anyone for how I feel
But the drink in my wandering hands
The alcohol I'm consuming is affecting me
Forget what I said
I said something I regret
It's not what I meant
My words were not reflective of my true feelings
And I can't take it back
Once something is said, it cannot be unsaid
I can't unpack the baggage you left
I cannot move on from the emotional baggage you left me with
What am I now?
I'm questioning my identity and where I stand
What if I'm someone I don't want around?
What if I'm not someone who I want to be?
I'm fallin' again
I'm experiencing emotions that I cannot control
What if I'm down?
What if I'm struggling and sad?
What if I'm out?
What if I'm alone and forgotten?
What if I'm someone you won't talk about?
What if I'm not important enough for you to discuss?
You said you cared
You expressed that you have feelings for me
And you missed me, too
You also feel lonely without me
And I'm well aware
I know your true feelings
I write too many songs about you
I cannot stop thinking about you, and it shows in my music
And the coffee's out
We've run out of things to talk about
At the Beachwood Café
The place where we used to go is empty now
And it kills me 'cause I know
It hurts to realize that we've reached the end
And I get the feelin' that you'll never need me again
I fear that you have moved on for good
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Harry Edward Styles, Thomas Edward Percy Hull
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@neededpeace
Has anyone ever noticed how most of Harry's music videos have displayed some sort of distress? The Falling mv is about slowly getting overcome with so much emotion that you start to drown in it ,and he just keeps playing the piano, not seeing what is happening around him until it's too late. And then, when it drains out, he is panting really hard, showing that he is still in pain, but it's getting better. The adore you mv shows a boy who is different from others, and is so much of an outcast that he brings
himself to the water, and puts rocks in his pockets so he can, you know, sink. And then he meets the fish who is having the same problem as him, and
he realized that they need each-other. He saved the fish, and the fish saved him(in my opinion its Louis idk tho). Later when the fish leaves him, he follows, using his jar of screams from earlier
in the video to get his boat moving. He turned the negative in his life into a way to save himself and others. The Sign of the Times mv shows him flying, and when you connect it to the song,.you realize that he is flying because he is saying "it's time for you to go, don't worry, it will be okay". Like, we always
talk about Louis losing his family, and Zayn's mental health, and Liam's alcohol abuse, and Niall's physical struggles with his injuries and stuff, and all of that is horrible, but think about harry. He has gotten the most negative attention in the band since the beginning because of his "bad boy" and "womanizer" image. He has had to face so many people calling
him a "sex symbol" and the f slur TO HIS FACE. His stepfather Robin, who he absolutely adored, passed away. Louis' mom, Jay, who was like a mother to him, passed away. Fizz, who was like a sister to him, passed away. One of his best friends killed themself, years ago, and be slightly talked about it during his interview with Zane Lowe, saying that
he always asks how people are because "you wish you could have just asked
'are you okay? just one last time". His
first real girlfriend, Carolin killed herself in February, because of all of the hate she was getting. He probably felt guilty because a lot of the hate she got
was because she dated him. And then he had to perform 'Falling" live, just a few days later. And there were so many other things that happened to him that
month. He had a show cancelled on his birthday, he was robbed at knifepoint That's literally his life. I feel like everyone always assumes that he is such a happy person, when in reality, he has gone through so much more than most people should ever have to. We need to think more about his mental health, and how
he is doing. This man devotes his life to
trying to make sure his fans are happy in
their own skin, and feel supported. We should do the same for him.
@DaFiresMen
These lyrics really fucked with me. Last year I lost my wife when she was giving birth to my daughter. Sadly, 4 days later I also lost my daughter. I was lost for a while asking "what am I now"? I wasn't a father anymore, and I wasn't a husband anymore. It takes time and I'm not fully there yet. Some days I just miss them and cry, and wish they were still around. But someday I think I'll be okay...
@mandyr8038
Dear Stranger, I am really sorry to hear that this happened to you. I'm so sorry for your losses. It does take time, alot of time and that is understandable. I can't imagine what you've been going through and it might not mean much coming from someone you don't know. But I want you to know, that it does get better eventually, slowly but surely. You will feel better someday. Give yourself the proper time to learn, to teach yourself how to live with it. It will be really fckng difficult and might seem impossible at times, but I am sure that you are strong enough even if I don't know you. Missing them and crying isn't a bad thing at all, it shows how much they mean to you and that is a beautiful thing to hold on to. I wish that I could do more for you than just a message, but I hope that you have all the right people in your life that can support you through this tough time. I wish you all the best for the future, and just remeber that it will get easier someday, you will be okay eventually. Take care Stranger, much love and support.
@lucky6341
My condolences to you and my love and prayers for you mate!
@em5528
i’m so incredibly sorry to hear that. i hope your doing better now, and you continue to do well. i’m sure your wife and daughter would be proud that you haven’t given up and you continue fighting. ❤️❤️
@sofiacostello9074
Im so sorry for your loss. May they rest in peace 🤎
@Madi_acres1
u are so strong, i dont know how i could live after that. im praying for you, and i hope u get everything good. merry christmas
@faiththeobald3318
When he said “ what if I’m someone I don’t want around “ I ugly cried
@majajegielka5640
But in a cool way😌❤️
@wolfie5698
i'm sure you did it in a cool way.
@sunsway8117
True it hit my core🤧