From Afar
Tom Day & Monsoonsiren Lyrics

The lyrics of Tom Day and Monsoonsiren’s song from Afar are a powerful expression of the emotions that arise when couples experience distance and separation. The opening line, “You left the room at 12am,” can be interpreted as the moment of physical departure, the moment when the person that the singer loves physically left them. The mention of fireworks rising while they were overspent suggests that their relationship may have reached its limit, and that they have indulged themselves to the point of exhaustion.

The next line, “You clasped it all and down we went,” is a reflection of the aftermath of their relationship falling apart. The “it all” that the person held onto could be interpreted as the love, the passion, and the memories that they shared, all of which abruptly came to an end. The reference to the “cheap hotel” and the “nine thousand [dollars] was the rent” delivers a hard-hitting image of a temporary and unsustainable living situation, which is symbolic of the fragility of their relationship.

The recurring line, “Still I know what I pine for,” suggests that although their relationship has come to an end, the singer still knows what they truly desire. The last lines of the song, “We’re splintering apart, we’re lovers from afar,” confirms that the physical distance and separation is what is leading to the disintegration of their relationship. The choice of words implies the lovers are drifting apart, but the singer’s heart remains, and the emotional connection from afar is the only surviving bond.