Never Coming Back
Miles Lynn Lyrics
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are howling at the moon
the days are too short
and the nights come too soon
there's cold in the future
there's rain in the wind
nobody's outside
there's a storm coming in
the carnivals gone
the neighbors have quit
trying to spruce up their lawns
Storm windows are up
sun flowers are dead
the pumpkins are done
there's geese overhead
and the hills they turned yellow
they turned red they turned sad
and everybody's talking
about the summer they had
and that car that you fixed
well it broke down again
and I know that the world's
never gonna feel quite the same
It's a done deal it's over
it's faded to black
you're turnin' your key
and you're not coming back
In Miles Lynn's song Never Coming Back, the lyrics paint a vivid picture of a moment in time where the transition from summer to fall seems to mark the end of something significant. The imagery of the tom cats and babies howling at the moon, the cold and rain in the wind, and the storm that is coming in, all create a sense of impending doom. The summer, with its festivals and carnivals, has passed, but instead of autumn bringing new life, everything seems to be dying or getting ready to hibernate. Even the attempts by the neighbors to spruce up their lawns seem futile. Miles then speaks about specific things like storm windows, sunflowers, pumpkins, and geese overhead, creating a nostalgic feel for all the summer festivities that have passed.
The stanza about the hills turning yellow, red, and sad, is a metaphor for the change taking place in people's emotions. He speaks of people talking about the memories of the summers past, but there is a realization that something has changed. The car that was fixed broke down again, and the realization that the world will never be quite the same brings a sense of finality. The lyrics in the last stanza, where he says, “It's a done deal it's over, it's faded to black, you're turning your key, and you're not coming back”, speak about the end of something important. The finality is palpable, and the listener cannot help but wonder what it is that won't ever come back.
Line by Line Meaning
The tom cats and the babies
The animals and the humans alike are expressing sadness and disquiet.
are howling at the moon
They are expressing their feelings to the world because they are overwhelmed.
the days are too short
Time flies by too quickly for him to enjoy it.
and the nights come too soon
The night feels too long for the pain to subside.
there's cold in the future
The near future looks bleak and uninviting.
there's rain in the wind
The wind brings forth bad news, and he knows it well.
nobody's outside
The world seems devoid of life and vitality.
there's a storm coming in
Trouble is coming, and it's beyond his control.
all the leaves have left
Nature is slowly losing its vibrancy and beauty.
the carnival's gone
The vibrant and fun things he once enjoyed are now history.
the neighbors have quit
The people closest to him seem to have given up on him.
trying to spruce up their lawns
People are focusing on trying to keep up appearances, not genuinely trying to enjoy life.
Storm windows are up
He's put up defenses mentally as bad things are happening around him.
sun flowers are dead
The natural beauty of the surroundings is gone.
the pumpkins are done
It's time for the happy celebrations to end.
there's geese overhead
The birds are exiting the scene, symbolizing change.
and the hills they turned yellow
The natural surroundings are losing their beauty, becoming sad and bleak.
they turned red they turned sad
Even the vibrant colors of nature are fading into grey, and there's sadness in the air.
and everybody's talking about the summer they had
People aren't facing reality and are instead reminiscing about better times.
and that car that you fixed
Even the things he poured energy and time into are falling apart.
well it broke down again
Even his efforts to fix things are proving futile.
and I know that the world's
He's come to terms with the reality
never gonna feel quite the same
Life will never be the same again, and he is struggling to cope.
It's a done deal it's over
The situation is beyond repair and cannot be remedied.
it's faded to black
The light in his life has waned, the happiness has faded away.
you're turnin' your key
He is mentally moving on, and the turning of the key signifies the turning of his life's page.
and you're not coming back
He's choosing to move on and accept this painful reality without looking back.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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