Past
Todd Rundgren Lyrics


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I saw you on the street today
I could not catch your eye or you'd have heard me say
That you look just the same
But then I realized
We are not even friends and I was so surprised
When the teardrops came

I'm living in the past
Living in the past
Living in the past, I know
But the past is gone

I can't remember when
You didn't cross my mind and pull me back again
Into my reverie
And that's why I'm living in the past

And I gaze out the window as the world drifts by
And my eyes will glaze and I slip away

And my todays are gray, the seconds tick away
But if I close my eyes it's only yesterday
And I see rainbows surrounding you and me




But that was in the past
I know it was the past

Overall Meaning

The song "Past" by Todd Rundgren depicts the deep emotions associated with the nostalgia of moments that have gone by. The artist's tone is brimming with sadness and longing for a time when everything was perfect, and life was free of complexities. Meeting a long-forgotten friend on the street invoked a rush of memories, but when the tears came involuntarily, the artist realized that he was living too much in the past. Although he yearns for the past, it is a heavy burden that he must let go of to move on.


Todd Rundgren sings about how memories of his friend and the moments they shared together during their friendship come back to him in waves. Even though they are no longer close friends, the memories still flood his mind and pull him back into his reverie. As he gazes out of the window and watches the world go by, time flies. He feels his present is bleak, and the only way he can find solace is in the past. The past was a time when everything was happy, and it is where he finds refuge from his current loneliness.


The song "Past" by Todd Rundgren is an emotional masterpiece that captures the sadness that comes with nostalgia. The artist's vocals express the longing for a time gone by, and the realization that he must move on to live a happy life. It teaches us the lesson that holding on to the past can sometimes limit our growth and hinder progress.


Line by Line Meaning

I saw you on the street today
Today on the street, I saw you passing by


I could not catch your eye or you'd have heard me say
Since you were busy and didn't notice me, I couldn't express my feelings


That you look just the same
You haven't changed a bit and look just like before


But then I realized
Later, it struck me that


We are not even friends and I was so surprised
It surprised me that we don't even share a friendship


When the teardrops came
I became emotional and teared up


I'm living in the past
I'm dwelling on old memories


Living in the past
I'm stuck in a previous time


Living in the past, I know
I'm aware that I'm living in the past


But the past is gone
Despite that, the past is no more


I can't remember when
I cannot recall a time when


You didn't cross my mind and pull me back again
You never ceased to enter my thoughts and evoke memories


Into my reverie
In that moment, I reminisce


And that's why I'm living in the past
Thus, I remain ensnared in nostalgia


And I gaze out the window as the world drifts by
While staring out the window, the world passes me by


And my eyes will glaze and I slip away
My eyes will become unfocused as I drift off


And my todays are gray, the seconds tick away
My days become dull, with the seconds ticking away


But if I close my eyes it's only yesterday
If I shut my eyes, I'm transported to a time gone by


And I see rainbows surrounding you and me
Then, I envision a bright, colourful past with us together


But that was in the past
However, that time is no more


I know it was the past
I'm aware that what I recall is long gone




Contributed by Arianna N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Kevin McGiffin

I love all Todds albums but this one hit me from out of nowhere . I think of this one first when someone asks me " whats your favorite ? " 😍 Simply beautiful live .

J Cloutier

"Liars" is so freaking strong.

P

Genius who has written such melodic songs consistently throughout his career: genuinely unique style...

radar blip

Spooky Good, Todd just doesn't get the credit he should. He has been making great stuff for over 50 years and this is no exception, Thanks for the play.

Us and Them, aka Kelly

Todd does get his recognition for his fans! 💓😏

Christine Sweeney

MY GOD IT DOESNT GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS

stephenn harle

This guy is as prolific as The Fall. Music just keeps coming. Hero!

Us and Them, aka Kelly

😏

Laurie Jensen

Absolutely love this song. His vocals OMG!!! Beautiful genius!

Kevin McGiffin

When the teardrops came ! The first time he says those words along with the music tears me up every time .

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