☝️ Key Points
- The song is about the power and persistence of memories, especially those related to past relationships and love.
- Old memories are uncontrollable and often surface when we least expect or want them.
- Old love songs can remind us of past relationships and make us feel like we haven't moved on yet.
- Memories captured in photos never fade and are always present.
- The song is a reflection on the difficulties of letting go of the past and how old memories can prevent us from living in the present and focusing on the future.
Interpretation
The song 'Old Memories (Originals)' by
Alicia Keys is about the power and persistence of memories, especially those connected to past relationships and love. The artist talks about the difficulty of dealing with old memories and how they affect us, even when we try to leave them behind.
In the lines 'Old memories, they don't go away / They show up before you leave / And disappear when you wish they'd stay', Keys describes how old memories are uncontrollable and often show up when we least expect or want them. They disappear when we try to hold onto them and remain present when we try to forget them.
In the chorus 'Old love songs (yeah), they don't ever end / Just when you think that you've moved on / They remind you, you ain't over it', she talks about how old love songs remind us of past relationships and make us feel like we haven't moved on yet.
The lines 'Old photographs never fade away / They're just frozen there in time / Locked in pretty picture frames' illustrate the permanence of memories captured in photos. These memories never fade and always remain present.
Overall, the song is a reflection on the difficulties of closing the chapter of the past and how old memories, songs, and photographs constantly remind us. Keys shows how these memories emotionally affect us and can prevent us from living in the present and focusing on the future.