Kirkland
Max Leone Lyrics
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I look at it on the drive home
Take a right after the bus stop
I could do it with my eyes closed
There's a park I used to walk through
And a graveyard with a white gate
Hospital next to my high school
Both are haunted in their own wayAnd they're putting up a Costco
Out on 88th and Barnes Road
(Ahhh)
Bought a necklace at the pawnshop
Gave it to her on the drive home
Used to think about her nonstop
Used to love her with my eyes closed
Used to park outside the white gate
At the graveyard where I kissed her
And I always used to be late
But I always used to be there
And they're tearing down the theater
Where I always used to take her
(Ahhh)
Oh and looking back now
It was all so innocent
Hate to think about how
How it's all so different
Oh and looking back now
It was all so innocent
Hate to think about how
How it's all so different
And they got rid of the pawnshop
And now everything is Kirkland
And they paved another car lot
For the people in suburbans
Used to do it with my eyes closed
And now I can't find my way home
Max Leone's song "Kirkland" captures the bittersweet nostalgia of youthful romance intertwined with the realities of change and loss. The imagery of a fallen tree outside a pawn shop sets the initial tone, evoking a sense of decline and abandonment, which connects to the themes of memory and change throughout the song. As the singer drives home, taking familiar routes that now hold ghosts of the past, the listener senses an emotional attachment to these once vibrant locations, like the park and the graveyard. The juxtaposition of the mundane (bus stops, pawn shops) with the somber (grief, death) highlights a tension between the beauty of memories and the starkness of the present, hinting that the past is not just a collection of moments but a landscape filled with both joy and sorrow.
The mention of the hospital near the singer's high school suggests deeper implications regarding the struggles of adolescence, potentially reflecting on lost innocence and the trials of growing up. The phrase "both are haunted in their own way" suggests that places carry their own histories and emotions, imprinting moments of love, loss, and growth on the singer's psyche. Furthermore, the reference to the establishment of a Costco alongside these significant sites signifies modernity and capitalism encroaching on the landscape of the past, reinforcing the idea that progress often leads to displacement and the erosion of cherished places. Through this imagery, Leone illustrates how the passage of time can bring about both new opportunities and painful reminders of what once was.
In the chorus, the repetition of “used to” starkly conveys the dichotomy of past and present. The singer reminisces about a love that seemed effortless and pure during his youth, recalling tender moments spent with a significant other, like giving her a necklace and parking outside the graveyard gate for kisses. These musings indicate that there was an innocence to his love and experiences at that time—one marked by simplicity and a sense of security. However, the lamentation that accompanies these memories, expressed in phrases like “I always used to be late,” suggests a continual struggle with time and commitment. The sense of nostalgia reflects a longing not just for a person, but for a state of being where life felt uncomplicated and carefree.
The song culminates in a poignant recognition of how much has changed, expressed through the refrain about the innocence that has been lost. The singer's acknowledgment that “everything is Kirkland” symbolizes a homogenized, sanitized version of the past that no longer resonates with its original excitement and vibrancy. As familiar landmarks are replaced with car lots and corporate entities, he feels a disconnection from both his physical surroundings and the core essence of his memories. The closing line about being unable to find his way home encapsulates a profound sense of alienation and loss; what once was familiar and comforting has now transformed into a landscape that feels foreign. It is a powerful assertion of how time, change, and commercialization can extinguish the vitality of personal histories, leaving behind only echoes of what once was.
Line by Line Meaning
Fallen tree outside the pawn shop
A once-sturdy symbol of life now lays broken, possibly hinting at lost memories and the inevitabilities of change.
I look at it on the drive home
The sight of this fallen tree serves as a poignant reminder as I navigate my familiar, yet transforming environment.
Take a right after the bus stop
I follow the routine path I’ve known, an automatic choice in my journey through a changing landscape.
I could do it with my eyes closed
This route has become second nature; I could navigate it without thought, reflecting my deep connection to this place.
There's a park I used to walk through
I recall a serene spot from my past, a place of treasured moments that evokes nostalgia.
And a graveyard with a white gate
The cemetery symbolizes both finality and reflection; its distinct entrance represents the threshold between life and loss.
Hospital next to my high school
Proximity of healing and education suggests a juxtaposition of vulnerability and growth during formative years.
Both are haunted in their own way
These locations carry emotional weight and memories that linger, representing struggles and the passage of time.
And they're putting up a Costco
Commercialization encroaches on the landscape, signifying a shift from personal connection to consumerism's dominance.
Out on 88th and Barnes Road
Specific intersections of life reveal how familiar places transform amidst societal changes.
(Ahhh)
An expression of longing or resignation, underscoring the emotional weight of these changes.
Bought a necklace at the pawnshop
A tangible token of affection purchased in a place filled with memories and significance.
Gave it to her on the drive home
This gesture of gifting carries deep sentimental value, reflecting shared experiences and bonds.
Used to think about her nonstop
Intense feelings and memories of love once consumed my mind, emphasizing the depth of my attachment.
Used to love her with my eyes closed
I loved her so deeply that it felt instinctual, transcending the need for conscious thought.
Used to park outside the white gate
I remember waiting at the threshold of our shared memories, a poignant spot for reflection.
At the graveyard where I kissed her
A significant moment shared in a solemn place, merging love and loss into one profound memory.
And I always used to be late
Despite my tendency to arrive after planned times, my presence was a constant reassurance of my commitment.
But I always used to be there
My unwavering dedication meant that I was always present, regardless of timing.
And they're tearing down the theater
The demolition of a once cherished venue represents a loss of shared joy and creative escape.
Where I always used to take her
A site of connection and affection, now disappearing along with those memories.
(Ahhh)
A moment of reflective exhale, encapsulating the weight of change and sentimentality.
Oh and looking back now
Reflecting on the past evokes a sense of nostalgia intertwined with bittersweet clarity.
It was all so innocent
Recalling a time of untainted joy and simplicity, highlighting the stark contrast to current complexities.
Hate to think about how
A reluctance to confront the disheartening transformation of experiences and places I once loved.
How it's all so different
Acknowledging the evolution of my environment and feelings, marking a departure from simpler times.
Oh and looking back now
The act of reminiscence brings both warmth and pain, revisiting fond yet faded moments.
It was all so innocent
Revisiting past experiences that felt pure and untouched by the complications of later life.
Hate to think about how
An internal struggle with accepting how much has changed, reflecting loss in the face of progress.
How it's all so different
Grasping the stark realities of how time has altered my surroundings and connections.
And they got rid of the pawnshop
A sign of gentrification and loss of spaces that held collective memories and personal significance.
And now everything is Kirkland
A comment on the homogenization of my surroundings, replaced by standardized, commercial spaces.
And they paved another car lot
The encroachment of consumerism is symbolized in the establishment of parking spaces, prioritizing utility over memory.
For the people in suburbans
Serving the desires of suburban dwellers, revealing an identity shift away from personal narratives.
Used to do it with my eyes closed
Navigating this environment felt effortless and familiar; it was once a place of comfort and belonging.
And now I can't find my way home
A metaphor for feeling lost amidst the changes, signifying a deep disconnection from nostalgia and familiarity.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Berit Dybing, Bradley Hale, Max Fogelstrom
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind