Today’s world is a weird one. I know that, as a twenty-three year old, I don’t have much say in critiquing my own generation in comparison to the ones that came before, but I stand by my statement. One of the biggest double-edged swords for my generation, in my opinion, is online dating. Stick with me, I promise I’m not just ranting; this does relate to the song. Now, I know that online dating has been a thing for a while, but it’s only recently that the dating app has basically entirely replaced traditional dating. Thanks to this newly found anonymity in the dating world, hook-up culture has become more prevalent than ever. For some, what this can lead to is a sense of hopelessness and accepting that love should just work on a night-by-night basis.
The song begins with a soft acoustic intro which quickly becomes accompanied by an electric piano and bass guitar. Every note change is accented by a light tap on a cymbal. Within the first ten seconds of the song starting, I was intrigued. It’s the simplicity of these quietly played instruments which add up to create something impactful and set the scene for what is to come. Before the first lyrics are even sung, I am sitting in a night bar sipping a glass of whiskey.
Jay Rosie’s vocals enter the song, perfectly complimenting the soft instrumental behind them. Immediately reminding me of Hayley Williams (of Paramore), I knew all of the ingredients for a good song were there. Rosie sings about experiencing love while reminiscing through memories, all while knowing they were only temporary, “Don’t let me go now, tell me it will be alright / Know you love me, baby / But it’s just for the night.” As I’m sure anyone who’s been dating in the modern dating app world knows, it’s incredibly easy to become jaded. While real love may be your first goal, it’s not unusual for the goal posts to be pushed back further and further until you are simply accepting of love on a nightly basis.
We are then quickly pulled in by a sudden shift in the instrumentals. Between the funky bass line and the new drum groove, it’s impossible not to start tapping your foot. Contradicting the first verse, Rosie states that perhaps she should leave first, so that she isn’t the one being hurt, “You’ll be gone when the morning comes / Unless I get going first.” It’s possible that on top of this, she is also expressing her insecurities and realizing that if someone did stay for longer than a night, they would see something in her that she doesn’t want them to.
Realizing that, even if her insecurities are outed, she would be better off with someone to help her through her thoughts, she once again changes direction, “Baby stay, baby stay / So I don’t have to face it on my own.” However, this continues into her wishful reminiscing in the last verse of the song. She realizes what she wants but knows that it’s not something she can so easily get, “Sun drip skies and midnight dreams / longing for something that I can’t reach.”
While simple in both lyrical content and execution, I believe that Jay Rosie did a great job in capturing a message and getting it out there. It is clear that this song came from some place personal, and I believe that it is one that many people will be able to relate to. With all of that being said, it is important to stick to what benefits you best. Try your hardest to not become jaded with the world and continue pushing yourself until you come across what you set out to find.
