“Forever” by Lewis Capaldi

Lewis Capaldi’s “Forever” is a song which can be interpreted as the singer expressing a sense of regret over the dissolution of a romance he was once a part of. Though he is also arguably relieved due to their being some finality in the matter.

The addressee is his ex-girlfriend. And basically, what he is telling her is that even though when they were together there were no promises the relationship would last “forever”, “that doesn’t mean” he actually wanted their union to end. 

Song’s Setting

So the setting of the song appears to be a random day in which Lewis has unexpectedly run into his ex, while simultaneously being intoxicated. And put succinctly, he is re-experiencing the loving feelings he had for her in the past. However, at the same time, he seems to fully acknowledge that there is no chance of them actually becoming an item again.

However, he does not appear depressed but rather relieved due to resigning to the idea that at least when they were together, he tried his best. “Nobody said that” their relationship “would last forever.” But he still apparently went into it hoping that they would. And for the most part, it seems that when they were together he and his ex truly tried to make it work. Indeed it appears what ultimately contributed to them splitting is letting their emotions (i.e. love) do the thinking as opposed to more ideally using their brains.

Regret

So there is a feeling of regret in this song but also a feeling of closure. Lewis probably wishes he hadn’t run into his ex like that. Or if he did, he would have preferred to have been more prepared for the encounter. But still, he got caught up in the moment.

However this experience has also caused him to understand that even though things didn’t turned out the way he envisioned, the romantic love between them will not be reestablished. In fact in the second verse he actually wishes his ex a happy-romantic future, inherently without him. And through his present interactions with her, his primary goal appears to be driving home a point. What point? We hear you ask. A point ( both to her as well as himself) that even though they may have never intended for their relationship to end such has indeed transpired, and they need to accept that fact.

Writing Credits for “Forever”

According to Capaldi, he wrote this song roughly two years after he and a girlfriend of his ended their relationship. Lewis Capaldi and two other songwriters are credited with composing “Forever”. Songwriters Joe Janiak and Sean Douglas are the two others who helped Capaldi pen this tune.

Capaldi produced “Forever” along with TMS.

Release Date

“Forever” was released through Virgin and Capitol Records on May 17, 2019. It was a part of Capaldi’s maiden album “Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent”. The hit track “Someone You Loved” is also present on that project.