"Daylight" from Lover
At Swift Steps, we use lyrics and songs to reflect on our own experiences with addiction, mental health, and recovery—both mine and our members.
This week's song struck a chord with many of us, leading to some amazing discussions and insights. I want to assure you that I will never share what our members discuss because of our confidentiality promises.
However, I do gather my own thoughts before the meetings, and I’m excited to share them with you each week!
“I want to assure you that I will never share what our members discuss because of our confidentiality promises.“
This week’s song is "Daylight” from Lover.
If you wanna take a listen:
Verse 1
"My love was as cruel as the cities I lived in
Everyone looked worse in the light"
These opening lines reveal the harsh reality of how I used to love—not intentionally cruel, but definitely shaped by my environment and how I learned to survive as a kid. I looked for validation outside of me, and love felt like an endless game of codependency. The light back then just made everything look worse, and I didn’t want to face it.
“I looked for validation outside of me, and love felt like an endless game of codependency.”
Pre-Chorus
"There are so many lines that I’ve crossed unforgiven
I’ll tell you the truth, but never goodbye"
This hits home for all the times I stayed in relationships long past their expiration date, clinging to them even when I knew I was unhappy. I could tell the truth about my pain, but I wasn’t ready to let go. Saying goodbye felt impossible because I was terrified of being alone. It wasn’t just about those relationships—it was about avoiding myself.
Chorus
"I’ve been sleeping so long in a 20-year dark night
And now I see daylight"
This line is my truth. For over 20 years, I couldn’t imagine life without a relationship. Being in a partnership was my safety net, my way of feeling worthy. But now, for the first time, I’m standing on my own. That “20-year dark night” was filled with avoidance and dependency, but now I see daylight.
“For over 20 years, I couldn’t imagine life without a relationship. Being in a partnership was my safety net, my way of feeling worthy. But now, for the first time, I’m standing on my own.”
I see myself clearly, and I like what I see. Just last night, I thought about sharing a home with a man again and immediately thought, Nope! Because I don’t need that anymore, and furthermore, I don't want that shit anymore—I have me, and I want my own space.
Post-Chorus
"I don’t wanna look at anything else now that I saw you
I don’t wanna think of anything else now that I thought of you"
This is my turning point. For the first time in my life, you isn’t about someone else. It’s me. Now that I’ve seen myself for who I really am—strong, resilient, and whole—I don’t want to look away. I’ve spent so much of my life chasing after other people’s approval, trying to find my worth in their eyes. But now, I see myself clearly, and I’m enough. This line isn’t about falling in love with someone else; it’s about falling in love with me.
“But now, I see myself clearly, and I’m enough. This line isn’t about falling in love with someone else; it’s about falling in love with me.”
Verse 2
"Luck of the draw only draws the unlucky
And so I became the butt of the joke"
I don't know that I ever felt like I was unlucky in love or like the universe was out to get me. I could see how miserable I was though, and before Jack, I definitely chose people who reflected the chaos I was used to, and I stayed in situations where I felt small because I thought that was all I was worth. I’ve seen that my “luck” changes when I choose myself—when I stop settling and start showing up for me.
Pre-Chorus
"I wounded the good and I trusted the wicked
Clearing the air, I breathed in the smoke"
This reminds me of all the times I hurt myself by putting my trust in the wrong people. I gave too much of myself to people who didn’t care and ignored the red flags. Clearing the air now means being honest about how I let that happen, even though it’s hard. It’s not easy to face, but it’s worth it to know where these missteps took place.
Bridge
"Maybe you ran with the wolves and refused to settle down
Maybe I’ve stormed out of every single room in this town"
This feels like a compassionate acknowledgment of my past. I wasn’t running from others—I was running from myself. Learning to stay, not for anyone else but for me, is where I’ve found peace.
Chorus
"Threw out our cloaks and our daggers because it’s morning now
It’s brighter now, now"
I don’t need to protect myself from others in the same way anymore because I trust myself to set boundaries and choose wisely. It’s morning now, and the light shows me a version of myself I’ve never seen before: someone who is strong, open, and ready to grow.
“I don’t need to protect myself from others in the same way anymore because I trust myself to set boundaries and choose wisely.”
Outro
"And I can still see it all (in my mind)
All of you, all of me (intertwined)
I once believed love would be black and white
But it’s golden, like daylight"
This is about reflection. I can look back on my past relationships, my mistakes, and my growth with clarity. They’re all a part of me, but they don’t define me. For so long, I thought love was about extremes—passion or pain, right or wrong. Now, I see it’s golden when it’s rooted in self-love.
"You gotta step into the daylight and let it go"
Letting go has been the hardest and most necessary part of this journey. I had to let go of the stories I told myself about who I was: someone who needed another person to feel whole. Stepping into daylight meant shedding that narrative and choosing to stand on my own.
Final Thoughts
"Daylight" is a celebration of self-love. It’s about stepping into the light of your own worth, seeing yourself clearly, and choosing to stay. For the first time, I’m not looking for love in someone else. I’ve found it in me, and I don’t want to look at anything else. Daylight is here, and it’s brighter than I ever imagined.
“For the first time, I’m not looking for love in someone else. I’ve found it in me, and I don’t want to look at anything else. ”
Feeling connected to this reflection? Join us for our next Swift Steps meeting where we explore the emotional challenges of growth, love, and recovery. Our community is here to support you.
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