In 1999 Jazz legend Joe Sample collaborated with Lalah on the album The Song Lives On, which became a staple on both Jazz and Smooth R&B radio, as well as topping the Jazz charts. However, it would not be until 2004 that Lalah Hathaway would resurface with her own project. She had her biggest hit single in years with an inspired cover of the late Luther Vandross' Forever, For Always, For Love, topping the Urban AC Chart and reaching Top 40 on Billboards mainstream R&B chart, a feat repeated by Outrun the Sky, Hathaway's first solo album in a decade, which was released late in the year.
That Was Then
Lalah Hathaway Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Going through changes from back where I once began um mm
A distant stranger I used to know so long ago um mm
Yea yea yea
Enlighten me ?lighten me up
Make me all over again
Come on a let me in yea
It was like a lifetime passed right through my fingers
(through my fingers . . . umm)
So long ago so much that I didn?t know
(so much that I didn?t know)
Kind of like a light shined down and showed me how
How to move on that was then and this is now
Waking up it seems am I the dreamer or the dream
Is it possible to know tomorrow unfolds too slow yea
Shakin me waking me up clearing my vision again
Seems like I?m born again ohh ooooo
Chorus
It was like a lifetime passed right through my fingers
(through my fingers . . . umm)
So long ago so much that I didn?t know
(so much that I didn?t know)
Kind of like a light shined down and showed me how
How to move on that was then and this is now
(repeat chorus)
In the first verse of Lalah Hathaway's song "That Was Then," she sings about going through changes and feeling like a distant stranger from her past. She wants someone to "enlighten" her and help her become a new person. In the chorus, she reflects on how time has passed so quickly and how she didn't know so much back then. She compares it to a light that has shone down on her, showing her how to move on and embrace the present.
The second verse explores the idea of waking up and not knowing if she's the dreamer or the dream. She questions whether it's possible to know what tomorrow holds and expresses the need for someone to "shake" and "wake" her up so she can see clearly. She feels like she's been reborn and is grateful for the opportunity to start fresh. The chorus repeats, emphasizing that the past is the past and the present is where she needs to focus her energy.
Overall, the song is about growth, acceptance, and letting go of the past. Hathaway's soulful voice and emotive delivery enhance the lyrics and make the message all the more powerful.
Line by Line Meaning
Na na na na na na oh oh . . .
An expression of enthusiasm and excitement that sets the tone for the song.
Going through changes from back where I once began um mm
Describing the changes undergone and progress made from a previous starting point in time.
A distant stranger I used to know so long ago um mm
Reflecting on a person from the past who now feels like a stranger due to the passage of time and distance.
Enlighten me ?lighten me up
A plea to be shown the way and to receive guidance for personal growth.
Make me all over again
A desire to start anew and be transformed.
Come on a let me in yea
An invitation to be allowed entry into a new phase of life.
It was like a lifetime passed right through my fingers
Expressing the feeling of having missed out on opportunities and experiences in the past.
(through my fingers . . . umm)
An extension of the previous line, emphasizing the fleeting nature of these missed moments.
So long ago so much that I didn?t know
Reflecting on how much has been learned and experienced since the past and acknowledging the gaps that existed before.
Kind of like a light shined down and showed me how
Describing a moment of clarity and illumination that helped in moving forward.
How to move on that was then and this is now
An acknowledgment that the past is behind and the importance of living in the present.
Waking up it seems am I the dreamer or the dream
Questioning the reality of life and wondering whether it is a dream or something more tangible.
Is it possible to know tomorrow unfolds too slow yea
Expressing impatience and the desire for the future to arrive sooner.
Shakin me waking me up clearing my vision again
Describing a moment of realization that brings clarity to the path ahead.
Seems like I?m born again ohh ooooo
Expressing the feeling of a fresh start and rebirth.
Chorus
Repeating the main message of the song with slight variations.
(repeat chorus)
Repeating the chorus for emphasis and reinforcement of the message.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: REX K. RIDEOUT, EULAULAH HATHAWAY, SANDRA ST. VICTOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind