What I Thought Would Be Forever

Alice Phoebe Lou “Better”

Alice Phoebe Lou is very gifted with writing melodies, which is how I could hear this song many times over the past month or so without really noticing the lyrics at all. Up until just recently the only lyrics I was clocking at all was the opening line: “When you finally arrived at the party on Saturday night.” But I wasn’t picking up the following line, which is a solid self-deprecating joke: “I had been waiting in anticipation, so could you forgive my weird vibe?”

“Better” is a song about the romance resulting from that meet-cute, but after it runs its course. The general tone of the song is warm and nostalgic for the early days of their relationship, but Lou cleverly flips the sentiment “things can only get better and better” through the song. The first time the chorus is sung, it’s about feeling like life could only improve while they’re together. Later on, this optimism comes from being rid of them. She flips back and forth a couple more times, but it always sounds true.

Buy it from Bandcamp.