This song is incredible. I heard it for the first time on Blog Radio (Brooklyn Vegan) on Sirius- Left Of Center. At first I listened a few times and thought it was a nice happy, catchy song. Then I listened closer to the lyrics and was blown away. I really felt like I could relate to the song... It was like what I had been feeling inside in my life and someone else had written it into a song.
Here is my take:
In the song Young Folks- Peter references past mistakes: "if i told you things i did before
told you how i used to be
would you go along with someone like me
if you knew my story word for word
had all of my history
would you go along with someone like me"
I believe in the first lines something (a song, etc.) familiar triggers memories of a past time before his regrets occured.
"I remember when, when i first moved here,
a long time ago,
'cause i heard some song i used to hear back then,
a lone time ago.
i remember when, even further back,
in another town,
'cause i saw something written i used to say back then,
hard to comprehend"
In the chorus, he seems to have payed the price from his regrets and mistakes and is slowly coming to terms with them. He asks if he is happier now then he was before these things occured. Although, he had less regrets before the unfortunate event, he seems to have grown due to the experience and thus can say that he is now happier. He may cry (due to regrets) still, but he seems to appreciate life more (laughs more) and has found redemption, or the freedom in moving on. He also has "matured", and has a greater self-awareness, and has come to peace with himself ("I am more me"). Past regrets have not changed who he really is- only shown and encouraged him to be who he wants to be.
The second verse shows the feeling of euphoria and freedom from moving on does fade at times, and it easy to fall back into a meloncholy state ("but of course some days, I just lie around and hardly exist..."). However, life provides exciting opportunities for new relationships and adventures that renew us and make us keep growing and trying- ("but life has a certian ability or breating new
life into me,
so i breathe it in.")
I'm not sure about the last line- ("and you still can make sense,
if you just show up and present an honest face,
instead of that grin.") I think he is saying that being honest, instead of faking being happy, is the way to go. It helps build deeper relationships- People ask How are you? not really wanting a truthful answer. They just want to hear "I'm good." He is saying give a truthful answer, and listen to others' "answers".
I believe the last verse is fairly self-explanatory. Perhaps there is a new girl that has entered his life. It is a completely different situation than a prior relationship (that he may have enjoyed, but taken for granted, or just didn't work out);- thus possible regrets), and it may make him feel uncomfortable.
The line "Just because it starts differently, doesn't mean its worth less"- seems to indicate that he really valued the prior relationship. Starting anew takes courage that is provided from his friend. He realizes that this relationship (perhaps the girl is very different- personality, etc.) could be what he is looking for and can expand his horizons. However, the past makes him hesitant. He decides however to give her and hope a try.
Basically, it is a song about past regrets, redemption, new love... and hope.
I hope this explanation is close to what Peter Bjorn actually was thinking about. I guess this is what it means to me.
This song is incredible. I heard it for the first time on Blog Radio (Brooklyn Vegan) on Sirius- Left Of Center. At first I listened a few times and thought it was a nice happy, catchy song. Then I listened closer to the lyrics and was blown away. I really felt like I could relate to the song... It was like what I had been feeling inside in my life and someone else had written it into a song.
Here is my take:
In the song Young Folks- Peter references past mistakes: "if i told you things i did before told you how i used to be would you go along with someone like me if you knew my story word for word had all of my history would you go along with someone like me"
I believe in the first lines something (a song, etc.) familiar triggers memories of a past time before his regrets occured. "I remember when, when i first moved here, a long time ago, 'cause i heard some song i used to hear back then, a lone time ago. i remember when, even further back, in another town, 'cause i saw something written i used to say back then, hard to comprehend"
In the chorus, he seems to have payed the price from his regrets and mistakes and is slowly coming to terms with them. He asks if he is happier now then he was before these things occured. Although, he had less regrets before the unfortunate event, he seems to have grown due to the experience and thus can say that he is now happier. He may cry (due to regrets) still, but he seems to appreciate life more (laughs more) and has found redemption, or the freedom in moving on. He also has "matured", and has a greater self-awareness, and has come to peace with himself ("I am more me"). Past regrets have not changed who he really is- only shown and encouraged him to be who he wants to be.
The second verse shows the feeling of euphoria and freedom from moving on does fade at times, and it easy to fall back into a meloncholy state ("but of course some days, I just lie around and hardly exist..."). However, life provides exciting opportunities for new relationships and adventures that renew us and make us keep growing and trying- ("but life has a certian ability or breating new life into me, so i breathe it in.")
I'm not sure about the last line- ("and you still can make sense, if you just show up and present an honest face, instead of that grin.") I think he is saying that being honest, instead of faking being happy, is the way to go. It helps build deeper relationships- People ask How are you? not really wanting a truthful answer. They just want to hear "I'm good." He is saying give a truthful answer, and listen to others' "answers".
I believe the last verse is fairly self-explanatory. Perhaps there is a new girl that has entered his life. It is a completely different situation than a prior relationship (that he may have enjoyed, but taken for granted, or just didn't work out);- thus possible regrets), and it may make him feel uncomfortable. The line "Just because it starts differently, doesn't mean its worth less"- seems to indicate that he really valued the prior relationship. Starting anew takes courage that is provided from his friend. He realizes that this relationship (perhaps the girl is very different- personality, etc.) could be what he is looking for and can expand his horizons. However, the past makes him hesitant. He decides however to give her and hope a try.
Basically, it is a song about past regrets, redemption, new love... and hope.
I hope this explanation is close to what Peter Bjorn actually was thinking about. I guess this is what it means to me.