Following 11.5 million hits on youtube and almost 80k likes on Facebook, Gartland independently released her first single in 2011 which reached top 10 iTunes placement in over 17 countries. Since then, 2 EPs have followed.
Souvenirs
Orla Gartland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yearning for the past,
It's like we're always burning,
Through the hourglass
(Like we always do, like we always do)
Learning,
Learning as we go,
It's like we're always searching,
Stuck in the rhythm,
Same every day,
Looking to pictures,
I know I should put away,
Building towers,
To break 'em back down
We're framing the moment,
Ties that keep us bound,
Oh! Days and nights,
Oh! Oh!
And the best of times,
We keep our memories like souvenirs,
Oh! When we were kids,
Oh! Oh!
Did you think that it,
Would all come back to this?
Oh, looking back,
Oh, looking back,
And you know, and they know,
That we just don't wanna be forgotten,
Stalling,
Just to make it last,
It's like we're always falling,
Falling for the past,
(Like we always do, like we always do)
Stuck in the rhythm,
Same every day,
Looking to pictures,
I know I should put away,
Building towers,
To break 'em back down
We're framing the moment,
Ties that keep us bound,
Oh! Days and nights,
Oh! Oh!
And the best of times,
We keep our memories like souvenirs,
Oh! When we were kids,
Oh! Oh!
Did you think that it,
Would all come back to this?
(X2)
Oh, looking back,
Oh, looking back,
And you know, and they know,
That we just don't wanna be forgotten,
The lyrics of Orla Gartland's song "Souvenirs" reflect on the nostalgia that comes with reminiscing on past experiences, and the yearning to hold onto memories that define our lives. The line "yearning for the past, it's like we're always burning through the hourglass" conveys a sense of urgency and the fear of time slipping away, as if there were not enough time to hold onto the memories that make us who we are. The phrase "learning as we go, it's like we're always searching for the seeds" suggests that we are constantly seeking growth and improvement, even as we reflect on past experiences.
The second verse expands on the themes introduced in the first verse by expressing the difficulty of letting go of the past, the monotony of day-to-day life, and the desire to preserve our memories. The line "we're framing the moment, ties that keep us bound" highlights the emotional significance that our memories hold, and the importance of the connections that we create through shared experiences. The chorus repeats the sentiment of holding onto memories as "souvenirs," and concludes with the realization that our preserved memories may hold more significance than we realize, and that we may not want to be forgotten.
Line by Line Meaning
Yearning,
Expressing a strong desire or longing for the past
Yearning for the past,
Longing for a period of time that has already passed and cannot be brought back
It's like we're always burning,
The feeling that time is slipping away too quickly, like a fire that is constantly burning
Through the hourglass (Like we always do, like we always do)
Time is constantly moving and we are constantly aware of it
Learning,
The act of gaining new knowledge and experience
Learning as we go,
We are constantly learning from our experiences as we continue to live
It's like we're always searching,
We are constantly looking for something, whether it be knowledge or something more abstract
For the seeds (of song?)
Perhaps we are constantly searching for inspiration or the beginnings of something new, like a seed that grows into a song
Stuck in the rhythm,
Feeling trapped in a monotonous routine
Same every day,
Experiencing the same events and activities every day
Looking to pictures,
Finding comfort or joy in memories captured in photographs
I know I should put away,
Realizing that we should let go of the past and focus on the present
Building towers,
Perhaps referring to building something up, only to tear it down again
To break 'em back down
The act of tearing down something that has been built up, possibly due to the desire for change or improvement
We're framing the moment,
Creating a snapshot of a particular moment in time
Ties that keep us bound,
The connections that we make in life, whether it be with people, places, or memories that hold us back or keep us grounded
Oh! Days and nights,
Expressing strong emotions about memorable moments in life
And the best of times,
Reflecting on moments that were particularly special, happy, or meaningful
We keep our memories like souvenirs,
Holding onto memories like they are precious keepsakes or mementos
Oh! When we were kids,
Reflecting on a time when life was simpler and carefree
Did you think that it,
Asking if, at the time, the person realized or understood the significance of that moment
Would all come back to this? (X2)
Wondering if everything that has happened since that moment was inevitable and if they could have predicted it
Oh, looking back,
Reflecting back on the past
And you know, and they know,
Others share in this collective experience and understanding of life
That we just don't wanna be forgotten,
A desire to be remembered and recognized, to leave a lasting impact on the world
Stalling,
Delaying or postponing something
Just to make it last,
Taking our time with something to make it last longer, possibly out of fear of letting go
It's like we're always falling,
Feeling like we are constantly tumbling or losing our footing
Falling for the past, (Like we always do, like we always do)
Continuing to get caught up in memories and nostalgia, even though we know we need to move forward
Contributed by Alexander W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sarah Close
this lyric video is so cool!!!
Evan Edinger
holy frick this was so great
Orla Gartland
:') BABE. THAT. IS. WHAT. YOU AAARE! thank you m'love xx
Aoife
I love this lyric video so much. Inducing some serious nostalgia right now. Great song too obviously, congrats Orla!
Orla Gartland
:') thank you Aoife! you legend! cheers! x
SeanieBlahBlah
This is so beautifully weird :) Man, I still remember you doing Outkast covers on a ukulele. I can't believe how legit this sounds.Β
Orla Gartland
aw man. You've been here forever! You legend. I still have the picture you did as my desktop image by the way! OLD SCHOOL
ViaTwi
I still listen to the EP sometimes and itβs so good!
I remember the energy of live session in Sugar Club
Erin Lopez
I love this. Β The concept of the video is so cool, how you're singing about looking back, and it shows a computer how it was during our childhoods. Β I would play that pinball game all the time omg! Β Also, "Orla Gartl***" lol nice little nod to the iTunes mix up. Β
Orla Gartland
hahahaha i was wondering who might spot that first! :) yay!