Miami Virtue
Umphrey's McGee Lyrics

When I was young, still a kid
Recollection of the singer's young age and naivete.

I was unprepared, never thought before I did
Speaker's acknowledgment of their lacking in preparation and decision-making.

And now as I look back I can't believe it
Speaker's realization of their past actions and shock at their previous behavior.

I told lies, needed proof, I was further from the truth
Recognition of the artist's history of dishonesty and lack of veracity.

So I locked myself in the corner of my room
Metaphorical description of the artist distancing themselves from their past behavior and self-reflection.

Yeah I thought maybe my view could be better
Hypothesis of the singer's potential for change and improvement.

I never knew what I did, it would all come back
Speaker's ignorance of the consequences of their previous actions.

I'd be forced to sift through all the misdirection
Acknowledgment of the artist's need to reevaluate and confront their past mistakes.

I believed in
Continuation of the previous line, with a focus on the artist's past beliefs and actions.

I relied on my youth, I could make up an excuse
Acknowledgment of the artist's tendency to rely on their young age as an excuse for their behavior.

And collected scars, yeah, I thought that I could choose
Recognition of the singer's past mistakes and the damage that they caused to themselves and those around them.

And my way would be destined to deliver
Self-assurance of the artist's past actions and confidence in their abilities.

You never have as long as you want
Recollection of the fleeting nature of time and the importance of making the most of it.

So don't get caught up in the
Cautionary statement and emphasis on not getting bogged down in trivial matters.

We never could take back time that we're wasting
Acknowledgment of the singer's inability to go back and change their past mistakes and the importance of making the most of the present.

I only hope that you've been listening
Speaker's hope that their message has been received and understood by the listener.

But I doubt you could repeat a thing
Speaker's doubt in the listener's ability to retain and recall their message.

Yeah I've been in that seat before
Acknowledgment of the singer's past experiences and ability to empathize with the listener.

It's always easy to ignore
Statement on the nature of ignoring advice and the difficulty of getting through to others.

When no one wants or needs advice
Continuation of the previous line, with an emphasis on the importance of being receptive to advice and the shared human experience.

From someone they don't think is right
Further exploration of why people may ignore advice, with an emphasis on perceived authority or credibility of the source.

And just cause I've been wrong before
Speaker's acknowledgment of their own imperfections and past mistakes.

It doesn't mean I don't want more for
Continuation of the previous line, with a focus on the singer's desire and hope for self-growth and improvement.

You live in the long-term world and it's hard to endure
Statement on the challenges of living in the long-term, particularly the difficulty of enduring challenges and hardships.

(But ya) Do cause you've already seen and
Encouragement to persevere despite the challenges, given the listener's previous experiences.

You know the routine now
Assurance that the listener is experienced and savvy enough to navigate the challenges of living in the long-term.

(We) Maybe could meet in the middle
Suggestion of compromise and cooperation to overcome challenges and obstacles along the way.

It's not too difficult
Reassurance that the process of compromise and cooperation is achievable and not overly arduous.

(To) Cause we're both just stuck with spinning wheels
Acknowledgment of the difficulty of making progress and moving forward, with the implication that the listener and speaker are in the same boat.

The odds aren't any easier on either side
Statement on the universality of adversity and obstacles.

And just because you say it doesn't make it right
Recognition of the importance of listening and open-mindedness, with a warning against dogmatism or inflexibility.

Don't think I ever could repay you
Acknowledgment that the listener has been helpful and informative, but that the debt cannot truly be repaid.

But it's still my life
Statement on the artist's autonomy and ability to make their own decisions and choose their own destiny.

I hope I never have to say or go forever a day without you
Expression of the artist's gratitude and appreciation for the listener, with a hope that their relationship will not end suddenly or painfully.

(To) Cause we can't take back this wasted time, but
Reminder that time is fleeting and cannot be recovered, with an implicit urging to make the most of the present.

(You) Never have as long as you want so don't get caught up
Continuation of the previous line, with a focus on the importance of not getting caught up in trivial matters or wasting time.

(Do) Yeah you've already seen and it's not any easier but
Encouragement to persevere despite challenges and obstacles, given the listener's previous experiences.

(We) Maybe could meet in the middle
Suggestion of compromise and cooperation to overcome challenges and obstacles along the way.

It's not too difficult
Reassurance that the process of compromise and cooperation is achievable and not overly arduous.

(To) Cause we can't take back this wasted time
Emphasis on the importance of making the most of the present and not wasting time on trivial matters or fruitless endeavors.