After the Pharrell video went viral, several different record labels tried to sign Rogers. She ended up negotiating a contract with Capitol Records where "she licenses her music to them through her own imprint, Debay Sounds." As a result, she has more control over her sound and image than many artists at a similar place in their music careers.
Rogers's EP, Now That the Light Is Fading, was released on February 17, 2017. She released her major-label debut album, Heard It In a Past Life, in January 2019. The album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200.
She made her television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on February 15, 2017, Saturday Night Live debut on November 3, 2018 and Today Show debut on July 12, 2019.
She cites Carrie Brownstein, Patti Smith, Kim Gordon, and Björk as her musical inspirations, while prominent singers Brandi Carlile and Sharon Van Etten - who she calls her "musical big sisters" - have become mentors. She also mentioned in her initial conversation with Williams that she has synesthesia, a benign condition where one or more senses is perceived at once. In her case, she is able to perceive colours as a response to hearing music.
Past Life
Maggie Rogers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Felt it in the breeze
Oh, I could feel the change a comin'
Comin' right for me
Oh, I could feel the change a comin'
Saw it on TV
Oh, I could feel the change a comin'
Saw it staring right on back at me
Oh, I could feel the shadow comin'
Straight on down the line
Masquerading like it was a friend of mine
Oh, I could feel the darkness wrappin'
All its arms in mine
Oh, I could feel the world was turnin'
All inside my mind
Oh, I could feel the world was turnin'
All inside, all inside my mind
I knew it when it started
Felt the shift right as it parted
Saw my feet right down below me
Saw the whole room move around me
Saw my old life and my old friends
Saw me haunted, saw me back again
Oh, maybe there's a past life coming out inside of me
Maybe it's the song I'm singing'
Maybe everything's just turnin' out how it should be
Maybe there's a past life comin' out inside of me
Oh, maybe there's a past life comin' out inside, inside of me
The song Past Life by Maggie Rogers is a reflection of the feeling of change and reincarnation in one’s life. Rogers tries to convey that change is inevitable and it can be felt in the air, and sometimes even seen on TV, as if it is coming straight for us. She suggests that this change is not always positive, as she feels a dark shadow looming over her, pretending to be her friend. This darkness takes over her mind and she begins to feel haunted by her past life and her old friends. The shift she experiences is both internal and external, as she sees her old life and the people of her past, but also feels the world turning inside her own mind. She suggests that perhaps this shift, and the feeling of past lives, is coming out inside of her, and maybe it's the song she is singing that is helping her understand and cope with the change.
The song presents an interesting contrast with its two different tones. The first half of the song is filled with a sense of doom and darkness, with the shadow taking over and the world turning inside her mind. This contrasts with the second half of the song, where Rogers becomes more curious and introspective, wondering if maybe all of this change is happening inside of her for a reason. She suggests that this could be her past life coming out, and maybe everything is turning out how it should be. Overall, the song is both introspective and socially aware, reflecting on the changes that we all face, whether we like it or not.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I could feel the change a comin'
I sensed that a change was about to occur
Felt it in the breeze
I could feel the change in the air
Comin' right for me
The change was specifically targeting me
Saw it on TV
I saw evidence of the change on television
Saw it staring right on back at me
The change seemed to be staring at me, almost as if it was alive
Oh, I could feel the shadow comin'
I sensed a dark presence approaching
Straight on down the line
The darkness was following a clear path towards me
Masquerading like it was a friend of mine
The darkness was disguising itself as a familiar acquaintance
All its arms in mine
The darkness had enveloped me with all its strength
Oh, I could feel the world was turnin'
I felt like the entire world was shifting around me
All inside my mind
This feeling was happening exclusively within my own thoughts
I knew it when it started
I was aware of the situation from the very beginning
Felt the shift right as it parted
I felt a significant change as soon as it had commenced
Saw my feet right down below me
It was as if I was viewing myself from a different perspective
Saw the whole room move around me
It felt like the environment was undergoing a complete metamorphosis
Saw my old life and my old friends
My previous existence and companions flashed before my eyes
Saw me haunted, saw me back again
I was reminded of the ghosts of my past and how they continue to haunt me
Maybe there's a past life coming out inside of me
I wonder if a previous life is resurfacing within me
Maybe it's the song I'm singing'
Perhaps my current state is being influenced by the music I'm producing
Maybe everything's just turnin'
It's possible that everything is simply undergoing a transformation
Out how it should be
This change is unfolding according to some predestined plan
Oh, maybe there's a past life comin' out inside of me
It's still plausible that an earlier incarnation is resurfacing within me
Oh, maybe there's a past life comin' out inside, inside of me
This notion of a past life is becoming more and more prevalent within my current mindset
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Maggie Rogers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ignacioantelo9125
Oh, I could feel the changes comin'
Felt it in the breeze
Oh, I could feel the changes comin'
Comin' right for me
Oh, I could feel the changes comin'
Saw it on TV
Oh, I could feel the changes comin'
Saw it starin' right on back at me
Oh, I could feel the shadow comin'
Straight on down the line
Masquerading like he was a friend of mine
Oh, I could feel the darkness
Wrap in all its arms, in mine
Oh, I could feel the world was
Turnin' all inside my mind
Oh, I could feel the world was
Turnin' all inside, all inside my mind
I knew it when it started
Felt the shift right as it parted
So my feet cried down below me
Saw the whole room move around me
Saw my old life and my old friends
Saw the haunted, call me back again
Oh, maybe there's a past life comin'
Out inside of me
Maybe it's the song I'm singin'
Maybe everything's just turnin'
On how it should be
Maybe there's a past life comin'
Out inside of me
Oh, maybe there's a past life comin'
Out inside, inside of me
@johncooper4874
This is one of three songs of Maggie’s that truly wowed me. Her emotions in this song are so intense it feels like I’m intruding on her personal space.
@RyANRobSoN393053
What are the other two?
@johncooper4874
@Ryan M. Robson Alaska and Back In My Body.
@onlygulcan3159
Gerçekten müthiş bi şarkı içim huzur doldu
@tamilarson849
There are many past lives coming out of you. Wow. Thank you for channeling the past while simultaeously taking us to a new age. Voice of an angel. Stay honest and authentic. Keep tapping in to the source this is all coming from. It's working and helping:) peace and light.
@dicestormfan3919
I´m a guy almost 40 now, never been particularly into music, and no song I´ve ever listened to in my entire life has made me cry.
Then along came Maggie Rogers.
I´m all in from now on. All in.
@lindahamon8359
I have always loved music, and I think Maggie Rogers is extraordinary. Got tickets to see her in Nashville at the Ryman in October. Feel so blessed!
@NereoDebay
It’s amazing how she can paint a scene in my head with this one
@antonmedvedev1128
Maggie's music is so overwhelming 💜
@totowashere
Oh god I felt this one in my bones. So beautiful and familiar and haunting.