When a teenage Reeves encountered the works of Bob Dylan and James Taylor, it set off a chain of events. First he began working on his own songwriting, combining the classic singer/songwriter style with more modern influences like Radiohead and Sufjan Stevens. He then dropped out of college and moved from Iowa, where he then lived, eventually landing in California. The second person he met upon arrival was future pop star Colbie Caillat. The two hit it off immediately and it didn't take long for their friendship to turn into a songwriting partnership, one that would create the foundation for Caillat's hit album Coco. The songs that weren't reserved for Coco ended up on Reeves' EP Hearts Are Magnets, which appeared in 2006 on the Dancing Squirrel label. The full-length The Magnificent Adventures of Heartache followed in 2007.
Reeves signed to Warner Bros Records in 2008 with the help of Kara DioGuardi and released an album and an EP with the label. He again self-released an album in 2011 with The Lovesick.
Back WIth Me
Jason Reeves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The smoke would turn to trees
And ice would melt from water
And rivers run from seas
And fall would follow winter
And summer'd turn to spring
And you'd be back with me
Heard every word you said
If i'd thought about you more
And me a little less
And if i would have noticed
The things i didn't see
Then you'd be back with me
Back in these arms
That are empty without you
Back in my world
That revolved around you
Tears would run back
To my eyes
The rain would fall up
To the sky
If our love was a movie
And i saw it in reverse
The end would never happen
Cause goodbye'd come first
And all this pain i'm feeling
Would turn to ecstasy
And you'd be back with me
You'd be back with me
The song "Back With Me" by Jason Reeves is a poignant ballad about lost love, regret, and the desire to turn back time in order to make things right. The opening lines evoke a sense of longing for a world where time flows in reverse, where all the mistakes and missteps could be undone. The smoke turning to trees, the ice melting from water, and the rivers running from the seas all symbolize a return to a state of innocence and purity, a world where anything is possible.
Throughout the song, the singer expresses regret for not paying closer attention to his lover, for not heeding her words, and for neglecting their relationship in favor of his own interests. He acknowledges that if he had been more attentive and aware, he would not be alone, and his lover would be back with him. The imagery of tears running back to his eyes, and the rain falling up to the sky, suggests a complete reversal of the natural order of things, a profound and transformative shift that would enable him to reconnect with the one he loves.
The closing lines of the song offer a faint glimmer of hope to the heartbroken singer. He imagines a world where love is a movie played in reverse, where the ending is never reached because the beginning is always present. He envisions a world where the pain he feels can be transformed into ecstasy, and where he and his lover are reunited once again. Ultimately, "Back With Me" is a deeply emotional and personal song that speaks to the universal human experience of loss, regret, and longing for a second chance.
Line by Line Meaning
If time was moving backwards
In an alternate reality where time moves in reverse
The smoke would turn to trees
Things that used to be destructive would now create life
And ice would melt from water
Things that were frozen would now be fluid again
And rivers run from seas
Things that flowed in one direction would now flow in the opposite
And fall would follow winter
The natural order of things would be reversed
And summer'd turn to spring
Things that were once in full bloom would be rejuvenated
And you'd be back with me
In this alternate reality, we would be together again
If i'd paid more attention
In hindsight, I realize that I neglected you
Heard every word you said
I failed to truly listen to you
If i'd thought about you more
I was too focused on myself instead of us
And me a little less
I was selfish and didn't prioritize you
And if i would have noticed
I was unaware of the things that were causing our distance
The things i didn't see
I failed to recognize the problems we faced
Then you'd be back with me
If only I had been more attentive, we would still be together
Back in these arms
I long to hold you again
That are empty without you
Without you, I feel incomplete
Back in my world
Everything revolves around you
That revolved around you
I built my life around our love
Tears would run back
My sorrow would be reversed
To my eyes
I would feel emotional pain again
The rain would fall up
The implications of our separation would be reversed
To the sky
Everything would be different
If our love was a movie
If our relationship were a work of fiction
And i saw it in reverse
And I could experience it backwards
The end would never happen
We would always be together
Cause goodbye'd come first
The sadness and pain of separation would come first
And all this pain i'm feeling
I am now realizing the depth of my sorrow
Would turn to ecstasy
In reverse, the pain of our separation would turn into boundless joy
And you'd be back with me
We would be together again
Contributed by Caden I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
JasonReevesMusic
Thank you so much for listening and caring so much! I hate to say this to you but my album isn't coming out until May now. We had to push it back to get it right. In good news though, the 2nd song and first single from the album IS coming out on your birthday still, at least that's what is planned. I apologize for the disappointment, but hopefully having the single released will suffice..!!
JasonReevesMusic
You are all amazing for watching/listening....thank you beyond words...!!
bellefleur16
"If My love was a movie, and I played it in reverse, the end would never happen, it's good-bye to come first." That is by far my favourite part of this song. It makes me cry and think of all of the fall-outs and situations I've been through, but this song it beautiful. I've been listening to it all the time, with its catchy tune and thoughtful lyrics. I listen to other music, but your songs always block out their words. Thank you.
chloe star
Had this song on repeat for the past few hours, really incredible
Aaron Zimmerman
If the rest of the album goes like this.... I may have a new favorite. Much more of a real sound! Love it!
Shelley Hierstetter
this song came at the perfect moment in my life. thank you for always being so relatable and just plain inspiring.
inlovewithlove12
This song has been stuck in my head all day. :) I love it!
Sarah Hays
This is so under rated! I’ve visited it each fall since I discovered it. ♥️
Jeannie
I love the song! Your singing is awesome and your words are true.
Lisa Marie
oh my goodness, this is absolutely amazing, phenomenal, brilliant, incredible.. i just can't find the right words :) thank you for every single word you sing, Jason! ♥