Released: 2012
“Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” by Tame Impala dives deep into the frustrating loop of trying to move forward in life or in a relationship, but feeling stuck in the same place. It captures the internal struggle between hope and disappointment, a theme many can relate to. Let’s break down the lyrical journey and the emotion woven through this psychedelic rock gem.
The opening lines, “It feels like I only go backwards, baby / Every part of me says, ‘Go ahead'”, set the stage. Here, the speaker is caught in a cycle of wanting to progress (‘Go ahead’) but feeling stuck, like every attempt to move forward only results in going backwards. This tug-of-war reflects the human experience of facing setbacks just when we think we have the green light to our dreams and desires.
Adding to this complexity are lines like, “But I got my hopes up again, oh, no, not again”. It’s a moment of real talk about the cycle of getting your hopes up only to be let down again, which can feel like a repeated punch to the gut in anyone’s journey, especially when it comes to the matters of the heart.
The song then delves into the vulnerabilities of love with, “I know that you think / You sound silly when you call my name / But I hear it inside my head all day.” It’s a poetic way of saying that the things we are insecure about, like the way our voice sounds or the way we express affection, can end up being endearing to someone else. Despite these insecurities, the speaker is stuck in a loop, hanging onto hope.
And then there’s a profound reflection on indecision, “The seed of all this indecision isn’t me, oh, no / ‘Cause I decided long ago / But that’s the way it seems to go.” Here, the speaker insists the root of their indecisiveness isn’t within themselves—they’ve made their decision to commit to something real. Yet, life’s circumstances make it feel like they’re not moving forward. This highlights a universal struggle: the difference between our control over decisions and the outcome of those decisions.
Ultimately, the repeated line, “Feels like we only go backwards, darling,” serves as both the chorus and the conclusion, summarizing the emotional rollercoaster of trying, hoping, falling, and the cycle repeating itself. It’s a melancholic acknowledgment that even with the best intentions, sometimes it just feels like we’re not making any progress.
In “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards,” Tame Impala manages to capture a feeling of stagnation and the emotional seesaw that comes with striving for progress in love and life. It’s a relatable, dreamy, yet somber anthem for those moments when we feel stuck, reminding us that sometimes, moving forward means taking a few steps back.
