Can't Go Back
Little Big Town Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh

Some things you can't go back to
Some things need left alone
Don't mess with the memories of a life passed on
All the tumbling reservations, at the heart of my mistakes
Oh, some things you can't go back to
'Cause you let them slip away

Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh

I don't wanna be a witness
To a path that's overgrown
I don't wanna see this house not be a home
'Cause time has taken control of
What we couldn't see
No I don't wanna be a witness
To the end of you and me

Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh

Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh

How am I gonna make each moment
Better than the last?
How am I gonna make it better
If I can't go back?

Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh

Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh

Oh the tumbling reservations
At the heart of my mistakes
Oh, some things you can't go back to




'Cause you let them slip away
Oh, some things you can't go back to

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Little Big Town’s “Can’t Go Back” convey a deep sense of regret and longing for the past, while recognizing that it’s impossible to go back in time and fix the mistakes made. The song is a powerful reminder that the memories of the past are sometimes best left untouched and that trying to fix things can often lead to further heartache. The opening lines, “Some things you can’t go back to, Some things need left alone” set the tone for the entire song.


The singer of the song recognizes that some memories, as painful as they may be, should be preserved because they are a part of who we are. The lines “Don’t mess with the memories of a life passed on, All the tumbling reservations, at the heart of my mistakes” speak to the realization that some things in life are beyond our control, and that sometimes we need to accept the mistakes we’ve made and the choices we’ve taken.


The song’s final lines, “How am I gonna make each moment, Better than the last, How am I gonna make it better, If I can’t go back?” communicate a sense of hope and determination to move forward, despite the heartache and regret of the past. Ultimately, “Can’t Go Back” is a beautiful and poignant reminder that life is fleeting, and that the memories we create along the way are precious and irreplaceable.


Line by Line Meaning

Some things you can't go back to
There are certain things in life that you cannot go back to, no matter how much you may want to.


Some things need left alone
Some things are better left untouched and shouldn't be meddled with.


Don't mess with the memories of a life passed on
It's important not to tamper with the memories of loved ones who have passed away.


All the tumbling reservations, at the heart of my mistakes
The doubts and uncertainties that I have had in the past are the root cause of my mistakes.


'Cause you let them slip away
The reason why you can't go back to certain things is because you allowed them to slip away from you.


I don't wanna be a witness
I don't want to watch things fall apart.


To a path that's overgrown
I don't want to witness the deterioration of something that has been neglected for too long.


I don't wanna see this house not be a home
I don't want to see a home become an empty shell of what it once was.


'Cause time has taken control of
Time has a way of taking control of situations and altering them beyond repair.


What we couldn't see
We were unable to see how time would change things, and now it's too late.


How am I gonna make each moment
I'm struggling to figure out how to make the most of every moment.


Better than the last?
How can I improve upon what has already happened?


If I can't go back?
It's difficult to move forward if I can't undo the past.




Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing, Bluewater Music Corp., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Kate York, Natalie Hemby, ROSI GOLAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions