“Hello”
Song by Adele:
Hello, it’s me
I was wondering if after all these years you’d like to meet
To go over everything
They say that time’s supposed to heal ya, but I ain’t done much healing
Hello, can you hear me?
I’m in California dreaming about who we used to be
When we were younger and free
I’ve forgotten how it felt before the world fell at our feet
There’s such a difference between us
And a million miles
Hello from the other side
I must’ve called a thousand times
To tell you I’m sorry for everything that I’ve done
But when I call, you never seem to be home
Hello from the outside
At least I can say that I’ve tried
To tell you I’m sorry for breaking your heart
But it don’t matter, it clearly doesn’t tear you apart anymore
Hello, how are you?
It’s so typical of me to talk about myself, I’m sorry
I hope that you’re well
Did you ever make it out of that town where nothing ever happened?
It’s no secret that the both of us
Are running out of time
So hello from the other side (other side)
I must’ve called a thousand times (thousand times)
To tell you I’m sorry for everything that I’ve done
But when I call, you never seem to be home
Hello from the outside (outside)
At least I can say that I’ve tried (I’ve tried)
To tell you I’m sorry for breaking your heart
But it don’t matter, it clearly doesn’t tear you apart anymore
Ooh (lows, lows, lows, lows), anymore
(Highs, highs, highs, highs)
Ooh (lows, lows, lows, lows), anymore
(Highs, highs, highs, highs)
Ooh (lows, lows, lows, lows), anymore
(Highs, highs, highs, highs)
Anymore (lows, lows, lows, lows)
Hello from the other side (other side)
I must’ve called a thousand times (thousand times)
To tell you I’m sorry for everything that I’ve done
But when I call, you never seem to be home
Hello from the outside (outside)
At least I can say that I’ve tried (I’ve tried)
To tell you I’m sorry for breaking your heart
But it don’t matter, it clearly doesn’t tear you apart anymore
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Gregory Kurstin / Adele Adkins
Hello lyrics © Emi April Music Inc., Kurstin Music, Melted Stone Publishing Ltd.
——————————————————————————————————————–
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins MBE, known mononymously as Adele (a one-word name), is an English singer and songwriter. After graduating in arts from the BRIT School in 2006, Adele signed a record deal with XL Recordings. Wikipedia
Born: 5 May 1988 (age 34 years), Tottenham, London, United Kingdom
Date knighted: 2013
———————————————————————————————————————————-
Hans Florian Zimmer is a German film score composer and music producer. He has won two Oscars and four Grammys and has been nominated for two Emmys and a Tony. Zimmer was also named on the list of Top 100 Living Geniuses, published by The Daily Telegraph. Wikipedia
—————————————————————————————————
A note from this author:
When “sorry” seems to be the hardest word to express and accept graciously:
In the context of the song, “Hello” – Adele, the protagonist, literally begs her lover/friend for forgiveness for past wrongs, spanning many years of impenetrable silence from ‘the other side.’. It seems that one of the main reasons for their impasse and misunderstanding is that Adele did not want to relocate elsewhere from the quiet town in California which she loved living in. Her ambitious friend, on the other hand, felt that the town was “essentially dead” – it was so quiet that nothing of consequence really happened there. They met and fell in love with each other when they were both very young and possibly quite immature too. Adele feels herself ‘torn apart’ by her friend’s absolute refusal to have anything at all to do with her, even though several years have passed since that horrible argument of theirs that separated them, not only physically from each other but on a mental and emotional level too. It’s obvious that her lover felt that his ambitions was more important than the love they shared together at one time. He possibly had given her an ultimatum – “I’m leaving this place – with or without you.”
While there might have been a lot of angry and hurtful words spoken – actions undertaken that can never be undone or unspoken – one still cannot help but sympathize with Adele. She feels so lonely, so hurt, so abandoned, so depressed and despairing and so forlorn that she literally says that she is calling “from outside; from the other side.” Many thousands of kilometers separate them, as far as distances go but what is even sadder is the emotional isolation and feeling of total loneliness that she feels at such a time. It seems very clear that Adele’s friend has moved on with his life and that she now forms part of his distant past – a past that he would rather not have to think about.
First and foremost, anger and hurt can be felt by anyone but this anger should not last for more than a few days, at the most. If one values a relationship with the opposite party more than one’s ego, it is always a good idea to ask oneself – “Does my anger matter more to me or my relationship with this person?” It has helped me personally, many a time, to make the right decision. So what if one needs to swallow one’s pride and apologize – even though one well knows that the wrong lies with the other person? An apology does not mean that the other person is necessarily in the right and that we ourselves are at fault – it is just a very effective way to smooth over a difficult situation. When did kindness ever hurt anyone? Kindness, sympathy, and consideration cost nothing and in the long run, make our world a better place to live in. One should certainly never have to beg another person for forgiveness – think of how you yourself would feel if the other person behaved likewise with you. Just think – if the other person could swallow his/her pride, why can’t we do the same for them? Forgiveness is a gift that few people accord generously to another. It’s truly sad that it is this way.
Many people find it impossible to verbalize their apology explicitly by saying, “I am sorry. Please forgive me. It’s my fault. I will try my best to make it up to you in some way.” It goes against such people’s grain, against their better judgment, their principles, and it happens invariably when one’s ego far exceeds the extent of one’s humility. It’s not that such persons do not want to accept that it’s their fault and mistake, they just do not wish to demean themselves and swallow their false pride by saying that they are sorry for what they did. In fact, they might go about it in a round-about manner by being more considerate, kind, conciliatory and understanding towards the wronged party. So what? Is it a problem? Not necessarily. It might not be the most ideal scenario but then we do not live in an ideal, utopian world either. Whatever way the apology is forthcoming – whether directly worded in speech or via conciliatory actions, we must learn to accept it as such – graciously, unstintingly, generously and unconditionally. Learn to forgive in the same way too. It works wonders.
If someone knows very well that they are in the wrong and yet they refuse to accept the fact that it was their fault – leave alone extend some form of apology – then, such a situation is unacceptable. We cannot be in the right all the time – we must learn to be humble and to accept that sometimes, we might be in the wrong too. To not do so is being egoistic and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. We must all learn to look beyond the end of our nose because the fact is that other people and their feelings matter too.
Forgiveness does not imply that one is in the wrong and that the opposite party is necessarily in the right – it is an act of self-healing and liberates our mind and soul from all manner of negativity such as anger, hatred, bitterness, etc. By forgiving another person, we indirectly allow the onus of guilt to lie on their side and most people are – at least – decent enough to feel bad about it and indirectly regret their wrongful behaviour.
Hello! Can you hear me? Or am I talking to the air and to the walls?
I cannot force you to be a better person unless you decide to become a better person first yourself. The decision of positive change has to come from within you and it has to be a conscious choice made of your own volition and free will.
I am your teacher – let it not happen that all my efforts go in vain.
So, Hello! Listen to me and pay heed to what I say.
“Hooked on Inspiration’s Blog” by Sherna Bhumgara 