You'll Understand
Tarnation Lyrics

The lyrics to Tarnation's "You'll Understand" seem to speak to the idea of letting go and moving forward, even when it feels like everything around us is changing or slipping away. The song opens with the line "There goes the other side, and it goes on without us, it goes on," which seems to express a sense of loss or displacement - as though the singer is watching some ideal or way of life slip away from them, whether that be a personal relationship, a sense of identity, or a larger cultural moment. However, the chorus suggests that this feeling of loss will become more universal over time: "And soon you'll know just how I feel, When you know, you'll understand." As much as the song is about the singer's sense of longing and confusion, it is also about the idea that all people will eventually experience some version of this feeling - that we all go through times of uncertainty or upheaval.

The song's second verse reinforces this idea by emphasizing individuality and the inevitability of change: "There's the way you are your own, And what is lost and what is gone." However, just as the chorus suggests that everyone will go through challenging times, this verse also implies that we can find happiness or meaning in spite of loss: "I hope you'll see some happiness, When you see, you'll understand." The song's final verse is perhaps its most hopeful, as it suggests that we can find a sense of release by letting go of our attachment to words or ideas that we once clung to: "Holding on to words that no one can hold on to, Leave the words behind you." Ultimately, the song seems to be arguing for the importance of resilience and optimism - recognizing that we cannot control the world around us, but we can still find joy and meaning in our experiences.