Hindsight
Sven-Erik Seaholm Lyrics
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After a summer's kiss
How do you rid the sweat
After the body bliss
How do you turn your eyes
From the romantic glare
How do you block the sound of a voice
You'd know anywhere
Oh I really should have known
By the time you drove me home
By the vagueness in your eyes
Your casual good-byes
By the chill in your embrace
The expression on your face
That told me you might have some advice to give
On how to be insensitive
How do you numb your skin
After the warmest touch
How do you slow your blood
After the body rush
How do you free your soul
After you've found a friend
How do you teach your heart it's time
To fall in love again
Oh you probably won't remember me
It's probably ancient history
I'm one of the chosen few
Who went ahead and fell for you
I'm out of vogue, I'm out of touch
I fell too fast, I feel too much
I thought that you might have some advice to give
On how to be insensitive
The song "Hindsight" by Sven-Erik Seaholm talks about the painful aftermath of a failed romantic relationship. The first verse addresses the physical and emotional sensations that linger after the passion of a summer's kiss has faded away. The persona is struggling to move on, wondering how to block out the memories and the voice of the person they once loved. The chorus reveals regrets and suggests that the signs of impending heartbreak were there all along, but were ignored or misunderstood. The second verse explores how to recover from the intensity of the physical and emotional connection and how to find the courage to love again. The final verse acknowledges that one person has moved on, while the other is stuck in the past, unable to forget and unable to let go. The persona is hurting, feeling rejected, and seeking the advice of the person who broke their heart to teach them how to be insensitive and protect themselves from future heartache.
One interesting fact about "Hindsight" is that it was released as a single in 1986 and became very popular in the Philippines, reaching number one on several radio stations. Another fact is that the song was covered several times by different artists, including by the Canadian rock band Prism in 1988 and by the Filipino singer-songwriter Noel Cabangon in 2012. The song's popularity among Filipinos is attributed to its emotional lyrics, catchy melody, and relatable theme of heartbreak and recovery. Additionally, Seaholm's use of metaphor and repetition in the song's structure creates a powerful rhythmic effect that enhances the emotional impact of the lyrics.
The chords for "Hindsight" are not readily available, but the song features acoustic guitar, synthesizer, and drum machine. The song's production is minimalistic, with Seaholm's vocals taking center stage and expressing the raw emotions of the persona. The overall sound of the song is melancholic and introspective, reflecting the pain and uncertainty of the persona's journey towards healing and self-discovery.
Line by Line Meaning
How do you cool your lips
How do you manage the lingering emotions of a summer romance
After a summer's kiss
After a passionate summer romance
How do you rid the sweat
How do you let go of the intensity of the moment
After the body bliss
After the pleasure of the moment
How do you turn your eyes
How do you avoid getting lost in the momentary ambiance of the situation
From the romantic glare
From the overly idealistic outlook
How do you block the sound of a voice
How do you get over someone who still holds your heart
You'd know anywhere
Someone who you could recognize, among thousands of people, just by the sound of their voice
Oh I really should have known
I should have seen the red flags that people gave me warning about
By the time you drove me home
Late in the encounter
By the vagueness in your eyes
The signs of aloofness
Your casual good-byes
A note of insincerity
By the chill in your embrace
The cold demeanor
The expression on your face
The look in your eyes
That told me you might have some advice to give
You might have something to say
On how to be insensitive
About how to not be attached to anyone
How do you numb your skin
How do you detach yourself from feeling what you felt before
After the warmest touch
After the most intense romantic bond
How do you slow your blood
How do you manage the intensity of these emotions
After the body rush
After feeling the biggest high
How do you free your soul
How do you let go of the weight that you feel inside
After you've found a friend
After someone touched your heart
How do you teach your heart it's time
How do you convince yourself that it's time to move on from that person
To fall in love again
To be available to a future connection with someone else
Oh you probably won't remember me
You probably forgot about me already
It's probably ancient history
It's something long gone in the past
I'm one of the chosen few
Part of the rare set of people who you allowed to get close to you
Who went ahead and fell for you
Who allowed myself to fall for you
I'm out of vogue, I'm out of touch
I'm not chic, I'm not on-trend
I fell too fast, I feel too much
I had too much feelings, too soon
I thought that you might have some advice to give
I believed that you cared for me enough to help me through this hard time
On how to be insensitive
On how to not be so saddened over a relationship that never happened
Contributed by Reagan M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.