Meaning of "I Found You" by James Bay

"I Found You" reflects the transformative power of love and relationships. The lyrics capture the narrator's sense of isolation and desperation before finding this person, as they reference their lonely nights, inability to pay rent, and feelings of heaviness and breakdown. The mention of playing records they couldn't own and sweeping up at 9 a.m. suggests a perpetual cycle of longing and struggle. However, all of this changes when they find this special person. The language used in the chorus, particularly the repetition of "I found you," emphasizes the narrator's astonishment and joy at discovering this love. They feel a newfound sense of purpose and completeness, as indicated by the statement that they don't need the ten missed hours of life back because they have found this person. The lyrics also hint at the healing power of love, as the narrator describes their sinking and slipping deeper before finding this person, suggesting that their love has saved them from further despair. Overall, the song embodies the transformative nature of love and the impact it can have on one's life.