It is no secret that Harry Styles has a chokehold on the pop culture scene. To those who have been a fan since One Direction, we have always known his talent, but the album Fine Line brought him back into the spotlight. His new song, “As It Was” has been #1 on Spotify Pop Hits since it was released. I do have to admit I have had it on repeat for an embarrassing amount of time, but with this, I have analyzed the lyrics enough to find some deeper meanings. The beauty of this song is much more than what’s on surface level, as it reminds us all to move forward and stop trying to recreate the past.
Aside from the title of the song, the phrase that is repeated multiple times is, “You know it’s not the same as it was.” This line directly reminds us that we will never be able to recreate the past, which allows us to comment on what good holding on to the past is serving us. I am often one to hold on to “things”, whether that be people, activities, or habits. I find that this can interfere with my experiences in the present, as I am caught up on what could have been, or was. The best way to fix this, in my experience, is to hold the memories close, but not allow it to impede on the present. Allowing the memories to stand as they are forms a deeper appreciation for the people and the moments that were. Our past is what makes us who we are but we must store them in the back of our minds and step toward the future.
Spending two years in a global pandemic has left many of us deprived of human connection and many basic interactions. We have spent over 700 days of our lives sitting at home worrying about a virus and the effect it could have on us and our loved ones if we contracted it. This anxiety takes a toll on an individual, even if it does not outwardly show. I am not sure life will ever be “As It Was” pre-pandemic. In our lifetime there will be a fear of illness, and the contagiousness of it, as well as a lingering field in the healthcare industry that a huge epidemic could take over their work again. We are definitely on the tail end of this crisis, but there are aspects of life that will never be the same. This is a hard pill to swallow as none of us can safely say we made the most of that freedom.
To take anything away from this somber idea that we can never recreate the past, is to appreciate all your memories for what they were/are. Each part of your life has allowed you to become the person you are today, and there is something to be thankful for in all of that. So many people have crossed paths with us on this journey through life, some will continue on with us, and others will just stay a memory. Although life is ever changing, there is a power to remembering the memories and life, “As it Was”