Comes & Goes
Les Savy Fav Lyrics


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Judging by your pauses on the phone
What's left unsaid is better left unknown
Maybe we'd be better off alone
The way we used to feel, it only comes and goes

It comes and goes
It comes and goes
It comes and goes
It comes and goes

It comes and goes
It comes and goes
It comes and goes
It comes and goes

In the middle of the night I'm pleading
And I know that you're not really sleeping
By the half-light of the dawn I'm seething
Counting every minute until you're leaving

You come and go
You come and go
You come and go
You come and go

You come and go
You come and go
You come and go
You come and go

At least we used to care enough to shout
Now we'd rather have our peace than have it out
Uncertainty's been swallowed up by doubt
I guess this is what my folks were always sighing about

It comes and goes
It comes and goes
It comes and goes
It comes and goes

It comes and goes
It comes and goes
It comes and goes
It comes and goes

You come and go
You come and go
You come and go
You come and go

You come and go
You come and go




You come and go
You come and go

Overall Meaning

"Comes & Goes" by Les Savy Fav is a song about the fragility and ephemerality of romantic relationships. The singer, presumably a man, is reflecting on his relationship with his partner, who seems distant and non-communicative, possibly indicating a lack of interest or investment in the relationship. He feels that there are things left unsaid between them that are better left unknown, and wonders if they would be better off alone. The singer then observes that the strong emotions they used to feel towards each other only come and go, which could refer to the fact that their love is not constant, and they only experience intense feelings towards each other in fleeting moments.


The lyrics also suggest that the couple has stopped communicating, as evidenced by the silence on the phone and the fact that the singer pleads with their partner in the middle of the night, when they are not sleeping. The singer's frustration and anger towards their partner is palpable in the line "By the half-light of the dawn I'm seething," and it is clear that their relationship is not in a good place. Despite this, the singer acknowledges that they used to care enough about each other to shout and argue, which is a sign of passion and involvement in the relationship. Now, they would rather have their peace than fight for each other, which signals a lack of investment and motivation to make the relationship work.


Overall, "Comes & Goes" is a melancholy and reflective song that explores the ebb and flow of romantic relationships, and how they can change and dissolve over time. It speaks to the wistfulness and longing that can accompany the end of a relationship, as well as the realization that sometimes, it is better to let go than to cling on to a relationship that no longer serves us.


Line by Line Meaning

Judging by your pauses on the phone
From your silence on the phone, I can tell there's something left unsaid.


What's left unsaid is better left unknown
Sometimes it's better not to know what's unsaid.


Maybe we'd be better off alone
Perhaps we would be happier if we were not together.


The way we used to feel, it only comes and goes
Our old feelings for each other only come and go intermittently.


In the middle of the night I'm pleading
At night I find myself begging and hoping for things to be better between us.


And I know that you're not really sleeping
I know you're not actually asleep, but avoiding me.


By the half-light of the dawn I'm seething
As the sun begins to rise, I feel angry and resentful.


Counting every minute until you're leaving
I'm constantly aware of how soon you'll be gone and can't wait for it to happen.


At least we used to care enough to shout
We used to be passionate enough about our relationship to argue and fight.


Now we'd rather have our peace than have it out
Now we prioritize staying calm and avoiding conflict more than resolving our issues.


Uncertainty's been swallowed up by doubt
I used to be uncertain about our relationship, but now I have no doubt it's over.


I guess this is what my folks were always sighing about
I now understand why my parents were always unhappy and sighing in their relationship.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Harrison Haynes, Seth Jabour, Syd Butler, Tim Harrington

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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