SUNSET
The xx Lyrics


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I saw you again, it felt like we had never met
It's like the sun set in your eyes and never wanted to rise
And what have you done with the one I love?
When I look into your eyes, I see no surprise

I always thought it was sad
The way we act like strangers
After all that we had
We act like we had never met

We make believe, I've never seen your face, you neither mine
And catch my eye, don't register a smile
You were more than just a friend, oh but the feeling
It never came to an end, I can't bear to see you

I always thought it was a shame
That we have to play these games
It felt like you really knew me
Now it feels like you see through me

When I see you again
I'll know not to expect
Stay one step away
We will have to wait

When I see you again
And I'm greeted as a friend
It is understood
That we did all we could

I always thought it was sad
The way we act like strangers
After all that we had
We act like we had never met

I always thought it was a shame
That we have to play these games




It felt like you really knew me
Now it feels like you see through me

Overall Meaning

In The xx's song "Sunset," the singer reflects on a relationship that has faded away. The imagery of the sun setting in the other person's eyes and never rising again speaks to the loss of brightness and warmth in the relationship. The singer wonders what has happened to the person they loved, and when they see them again, it's as though they're strangers. The feeling is bittersweet, as there is a sense of familiarity but also a sadness that things are not the same.


The song explores the idea of playing games in a relationship, pretending not to know each other or avoiding contact altogether. The singer expresses a longing for the connection they once had, but acknowledges that they will have to wait and see what happens. There is a sense of resignation in the last stanza, as if the singer has come to terms with the fact that things may never be the same and that they did all they could.


The repetitive melody and sparse instrumentation give the song a haunting quality, while the lyrics convey a deep sense of loss and longing. The xx's signature minimalist style allows the lyrics to take center stage and evoke a powerful emotional response.


Line by Line Meaning

I saw you again, it felt like we had never met
Meeting you again felt like we were strangers


It's like the sun set in your eyes and never wanted to rise
Your eyes seem like a sunset that never ends


And what have you done with the one I love?
You made me lose the one I loved


When I look into your eyes, I see no surprise
I can't find anything in your eyes that surprises me


We make believe, I've never seen your face, you neither mine
We pretend like we don't know each other's face


And catch my eye, don't register a smile
You don't smile even when you catch my eye


You were more than just a friend, oh but the feeling
We had a special feeling between us, more than friendship


It never came to an end, I can't bear to see you
That feeling still exists and I can't bear to see you because of that


When I see you again / I'll know not to expect / Stay one step away / We will have to wait
The next time I see you, I won't have any expectations and we should keep a distance for now


And I'm greeted as a friend / It is understood / That we did all we could
If we greet each other as friends, we both know that we tried our best to keep things good between us




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Romy Anna Madley Croft, James Thomas Smith, Oliver David Sim

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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