Calm Down
Pete Yorn Lyrics

The song "Calm Down" by Pete Yorn is a reflective piece that meditates on the past and present. The opening lyrics "All is well in my hometown, people sleeping in the streetlight" sets a sort of nostalgic tone as if the singer is reflecting on his hometown seeing it from the present. The next line "If there's a memory at all, I wish I knew then what I know now" is a reflection of one's realisation of how things were handled in the past. This line is significant as it shows how hindsight can often provide an entirely different perspective and how one may wish they had known then what they know now.

The refrain "Calm Down" provides a sense of reassurance as if the singer is trying to console someone. The phrase "You know I'm telling the truth" implies that the person being addressed may not believe the singer initially but their reassurance is sincere. The line "I know there's nothing to lose" is significant as it's a reminder that even when things don't go as planned or don't work out, there's still more to be gained by taking chances than staying put.

The second verse "All is well in your world now, people dreaming through the daylight, all the melodies come back, I wish I knew then what I know now" continues with a reflection on the past, but this time from another's point of view, someone close to the singer. The repetition of the refrain and the final verse "All the tears I cried, but I wouldn't change a thing, no, I wouldn't change a thing" provides a fitting and beautiful conclusion to the song's message which is to live with no regrets and to appreciate the present moment.