Nothing Lasts Forever

Echo & The Bunnymen's song 'Nothing Lasts Forever' delves into the ephemeral nature of life, love, and desire. The lyrics express a sense of urgency and impatience, with the repeated line 'I want it now' highlighting a craving for immediate fulfillment. This impatience is juxtaposed against the inevitability of time passing and the transient nature of all things, encapsulated in the refrain 'Nothing ever lasts forever.' The singer's desire to live in the moment and escape the sorrow of unfulfilled promises underscores a deep-seated frustration with the limitations imposed by time and circumstance.

The song also explores themes of hidden emotions and unspoken love. The lines 'Under skin is where I hide / The love that always gets me on my knees' suggest a profound, yet concealed, emotional vulnerability. This hidden love is powerful enough to bring the singer to their knees, indicating its intensity and the pain of keeping it unexpressed. The imagery of walking through 'rings of fire' to reach someone without revealing true feelings further emphasizes the struggle between desire and restraint.

The recurring motif of shadows and pain coming to the listener suggests an inevitable confrontation with the darker aspects of life. This could be interpreted as a reminder that no matter how much one tries to forget or escape, the shadows of past sorrows and pains will eventually resurface. The song's melancholic tone and reflective lyrics resonate with the universal human experience of grappling with impermanence and the relentless march of time, making it a poignant meditation on the fleeting nature of existence.