Official Site for her debut album, "Rooms With Walls and Windows": http://orindal.limitedrun.com/products/520228-julie-byrne-rooms-with-walls-and-windows
http://juliembyrne.bandcamp.com/
Holiday
Julie Byrne Lyrics
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How cold it had been then and soon will be again
We could've lived together and given up our dreams of wandering
We could've left together
and given up our dreams of the home we could keep
You may travel alone and still be accompanied by my love
We parted by my birthday and without you here I am a different age
So continue to live alone and speak not your thoughts of land or holiday
& I will leave again and make all new plans to fill the space that you left
I do travel alone and yours is not a number I can call on the phone
The lyrics of Julie Byrne's song, "Holiday," narrate the story of two individuals who met on New Year’s Eve in New York City. They contemplate the idea of being together and relinquishing their desire to discover new places. These lyrics reflect the choices that individuals make in their lives, whether to settle down or to continue exploring, and the possible consequences of these choices.
The melancholic tone of the song is captured in the following line, "How cold it had been then and soon will be again." The cold alludes to the emotional distance between the two individuals, and their inability to reconcile their different aspirations. The song's chorus, "You may travel alone and still be accompanied by my love," highlights the persistence of love despite physical separation.
The song's second verse narrates how they parted, and the singer laments how their separation has changed their outlook on life. The line, "How bright I had been then and fear it may not ever show again," portrays how relationships can bring brightness to one's life, and their absence can leave a void. The song's conclusion states that the singer will continue to travel, and the other person should refrain from discussing the idea of settling down. Overall, the song explores the decisions that individuals make when their paths intersect, and the possibilities and consequences that arise from those choices.
Line by Line Meaning
We met on New Years Eve in New York City
We first crossed paths on a night of celebration in America's most famous city.
How cold it had been then and soon will be again
The frosty air of that evening is unforgettable and will soon return.
We could've lived together and given up our dreams of wandering
A life of companionship was an option, but it would have meant sacrificing our love for adventure.
We could've left together
and given up our dreams of the home we could keep
We could have chosen to settle down and build a home instead of chasing after our individual aspirations.
You may travel alone and still be accompanied by my love
Even if we are physically apart, my love will follow you wherever you go.
We parted by my birthday and without you here I am a different age
We went our separate ways right around the time when I grew another year older, and the absence of your presence has made me feel even older.
How bright I had been then and fear it may not ever show again
I was once overflowing with energy and passion, but I'm scared that it might not come back to me.
So continue to live alone and speak not your thoughts of land or holiday
If you need to be by yourself, go ahead, but don't talk to me about wanting to settle down or go on vacation.
& I will leave again and make all new plans to fill the space that you left
I'll set out on another journey, come up with new goals to pursue and try to move on from our time together.
I do travel alone and yours is not a number I can call on the phone
I am still traveling solo, and you're not someone I can call up to talk to whenever I want.
Contributed by Logan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.