Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “My Oldest Friend” by Have Mercy
Have Mercy’s song “My Oldest Friend” is a reflective song about grief and regret. The song’s protagonist is dealing with the death of someone very close to them, and they are reflecting on the life of their lost friend. The narrator reflects on what could have been done to change the situation – to keep their old friend around for a bit longer.
The song opens with a raw and emotive description of the narrator’s sense of loss and emptiness. They sing about being haunted by all of the memories of their lost loved one: “I’m still haunted by the picture of us / Still spinning circles of the ways it can be”. This conveys a feeling of helplessness as the narrator knows that they cannot undo the tragedy of their friend’s passing.
The song slowly builds into a more optimistic tone as the narrator reflects on the special bond that they shared with their friend. They lament the passing of time and the lost potential of where their friendship could have gone: “And sometimes I wish I could go back in time / To where you were alive and I was just a kid”. There is a sense of longing for a friendship that can never be recaptured.
The narrator also expresses their feeling of guilt about not spending enough time with their lost friend. By asking “Did I let too much time pass by?”, the narrator expresses a deep regret for not taking action soon enough. They also feel an intense sadness for not taking the opportunity to spend more time with their oldest friend.
The narrator’s grief is palpable, and they choose to remember the beautiful memories that they shared with their old friend. They accept that life changes and that they will inevitably have to say goodbye, but they will never forget who their oldest friend was: “I wouldn’t change a single thing, no / My oldest friend, you were with me, always”.