Always Already Gone
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics


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I tried hard to keep you
I needn't have tried
It seems you'd decided
When did you decide?
So this is the last time
I cry in the dawn
It seems you were always
Always already gone

You never were happy
You had to be free
You took all the freedom
You needed from me
Then you and your freedom
Flew thither and yon
You're free to be always
Always already gone

I couldn't have dreamed you
But I might as well
You leave me with only
A story to tell
But at the beginning
Our story is done




Because you were always
Always already gone

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Always Already Gone" by The Magnetic Fields talk about a one-sided relationship where one person tried hard to keep the other person, but it seems that person had already made up their mind to leave. The singer in the song expresses their pain of realizing that the other person was always going to be gone. The song’s opening line, “I tried hard to keep you. I needn’t have tried,” sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer seems to acknowledge that their efforts were futile as if they had lost the battle before it even started. The lyrics, “You never were happy. You had to be free. You took all the freedom You needed from me,” suggest that the other person had a need for freedom, and that was the reason for leaving. However, the singer acknowledges that their effort of trying too hard to keep the other person didn’t make sense because the other person was already gone.


The lyrics, “But at the beginning, Our story is done Because you were always Always already gone,” suggest that the relationship was not meant to be from the start. The other person’s need for freedom was stronger than their need to be in a relationship. The singer seems to have accepted the fact that the other person is gone and that the relationship is over. Overall, the lyrics of "Always Already Gone" convey feelings of sadness, loss, and acceptance of the reality of the situation.


Line by Line Meaning

I tried hard to keep you
I put all my effort into trying to hold onto you


I needn't have tried
You had already made up your mind


It seems you'd decided
You had already made a decision without telling me


When did you decide?
I wish I knew when you made this decision


So this is the last time
This is the final moment between us


I cry in the dawn
I am shedding tears at the start of a new day


It seems you were always
It's as if you never truly belonged to me


Always already gone
You have always been gone, even when you were here


You never were happy
You never found happiness with me or anyone else


You had to be free
You needed to be unbound and unrestricted


You took all the freedom
You claimed all the liberty and independence


You needed from me
And you obtained it, then moved on


Then you and your freedom
You and your liberation


Flew thither and yon
Traveled aimlessly, without direction or purpose


You're free to be always
You're free to live your life as you want


Always already gone
You have already left, and I can't bring you back


I couldn't have dreamed you
I never thought I'd lose you


But I might as well
I might as well accept that you're gone


You leave me with only
You've left me with nothing but


A story to tell
This is the story of us and what we were


But at the beginning
From the very start


Our story is done
Our story has reached its end


Because you were always
Because you never truly belonged to me


Always already gone
You have always been gone, even when you were here




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEPHIN RAYMOND MERRITT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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