Meaning of "Years Gone By" by The Milk Carton Kids

The lyrics of "Years Gone By" evoke a sense of nostalgia and longing for a past that has slipped away. The repetition of phrases like "when you go" and "I don't know myself anymore" suggests a theme of loss and separation, both from the person being addressed and from one's own sense of identity. The imagery of winter, storms, and raging fires conveys a feeling of chaos and upheaval, as the singer navigates a world that has been transformed by the passage of time. The final lines, "Young hearts grown old, I don't know myself anymore," encapsulate the overarching sentiment of the song - a poignant recognition of the ways in which time has reshaped the singer's inner landscape. Overall, the lyrics of "Years Gone By" paint a powerful portrait of the bittersweet nature of memory and the inexorable march of time.