Don't look back
She & Him/She and Him Lyrics
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But I never had yours
I followed you back to the end of the path,
But I never found the door
And you can work to save your love
You can bear it from the earth below
Oh, oh but you have to know
Don't look back all you'll ever get
Is the dust from the steps before
I don't have to see you every day,
But I just want to know you're there
Quietly took to the dark of the day
And the hiss of the summer night
The heat of the breeze was a cell block wall
And when I looked you were out of sight
And you can work to save your love
You can bear it from the earth below
You can work but you can't let go
Oh, oh but you have to know
Don't look back all you'll ever get
Is the dust from the steps before
I don't have to see you every day,
But I just want to know you're there
And you can work to save your love
You can bear it from the earth below
You can work but you can't let go
Oh, oh but you have to know
Don't look back all you'll ever get
Is the dust from the steps before
I don't have to see you every day,
But I just want to know you're there
Don't look back all you'll ever get
Is the dust from the steps before
I don't have to see you every day,
But I just want to know you're there
Don't look back all you'll ever get
Is the dust from the steps before
I don't have to see you every day,
But I just want to know you're there
Don't look back all you'll ever get
Is the dust from the steps before
The lyrics of “Don't Look Back” by She and Him are quite intriguing as they are a tribute to the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. The song contains references to Persephone, the goddess of the underworld, and Orpheus, a mortal who was gifted with exceptional musical skills. In the myth, Orpheus successfully won back his beloved Eurydice from death, but failed to follow the one condition given to him and looked back, losing her forever. The song shows the singer following someone, perhaps a loved one or an admired person, but never finding the door to their heart. The references to Orpheus and Persephone could symbolize the singer's struggles, as Orpheus’ story is a metaphor for the attempt to bring back the love of someone already gone or inaccessible.
The chorus, “Don't look back, all you'll ever get is the dust from the steps before,” could be seen as a warning to the singer not to repeat Orpheus’ mistake. The line “I don't have to see you every day, but I just want to know you're there,” portrays a longing for a connection, hinting that the singer cherishes having the person in their life even if they can't have a closer relationship. The second verse echoes the idea that the singer is somewhat obsessed and stalker-like in their pursuit, "the heat of the breeze was a cell block wall," and even though they can't let go, the person has to know that it's not an easy journey.
Overall, "Don't Look Back" is an intriguing song with an underlying metaphor of the Orpheus myth that speaks of the longing for the impossible and the painful realization that sometimes it's better to let go.
Line by Line Meaning
Orpheus melted the heart of Persephone
Persephone was enamoured by Orpheus, but I couldn't capture your heart in the same way.
But I never had yours
Despite my efforts, I was unable to win your love.
I followed you back to the end of the path
I pursued you relentlessly, until we reached the end.
But I never found the door
However, I was unable to enter into a relationship with you.
And you can work to save your love
Though you may struggle to preserve your relationship,
You can bear it from the earth below
You can endure it from the depths of your soul.
You can work but you can't let go
Despite your efforts, you cannot move on from this love.
Oh, oh, but you have to know
But it's important for you to realize.
Don't look back
Do not dwell on the past or past relationships.
All you'll ever get is the dust from the steps before
You only gain what has already been left behind by others.
I don't have to see you every day
I do not need to be around you constantly.
But I just want to know you're there
I simply need the assurance of knowing you still exist in my life.
Quietly took to the dark of the day
I retreated to the shadows in the midst of daylight.
And the heat of the summer night
But even in the warmth of summer, I felt a coldness in my heart.
The heat of the breeze was a cell block wall
Even the gentle wind felt like a suffocating prison.
And when I looked you were out of sight
And when I searched for you, you had already vanished from my view.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ZOOEY DESCHANEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Yabbadabbawhat100
I like the fact that she's not a powerhouse vocalist. I find her her voice charming and real, and they're bringing back a sound I've long missed. Great stuff! :-)
@meghan486
She has the most mesmerizing eyes I've ever seen.
@markkershey2423
What a Great mid 60's vibe & sound with this song. The dancing reminds of the stuff you saw on Dick Clark or Hullabaloo!! Zooey is a real treasure & she has the most beautiful eyes of any woman on the planet!!
@shenkerism
This is nice. Just. Nice. Respectable music by a respectable artist. She successfully captured the ideas she puts forth in the lyrics. The harmonies in the background are also nice. I like it.
@tatyana6063
She and Him, I love your music a lot, and I love this song by you. Now that I hear this song, I really enjoy it. It's really moving to me, you go!
@misslovelyy18
Why isn't this song more famous?! It's amazing!!!
@nightmare-nightmarenightma1147
One of my favorite songs in highschool. Never failed to put me in a good mood
@AJJacome
This is originality....you don't see that very much at all these days. It's also art. Embrace it. Be open-minded, miss, and you'll see the beauty of this song.
@DyslexicTurtle
That chorus is freakin magical
@YayaSukijaki
This song started playing at Michaels today and I got a little too happy. Of course I had to sing along.