What Do "Hello"s Lyrics Tell Us?

Hello, it's Adele. Yes, pump the breaks and prepare to sob your eyes out, because, on Friday, Adele released "Hello," the first single off her new upcoming album 25. It's a big moment for all of us who felt the last few years since she released 21 have been devoid of killer pipes and tracks that tread us through triumph, heartbreak, and every emotion in between. It looks like she's going to take us on that journey again, but just what do the lyrics to "Hello" actually mean?

Last time we checked in on Adele, she had been singing about coping with lost love in tracks like "Rolling in the Deep," and my favorite song to bawl to, "Someone Like You." Powerful as she sounds in each song, there was a defiant wail that suggested that she was decidedly Not Over It. In my mind, this makes "Hello" sort of a bittersweet sequel, a follow up on how things are now that the pieces have shattered and come back together.

Until 25 hits the shelves November 20, we have plenty of time to ponder and decrypt what's going on behind "Hello." So allow me to guide you through it, step by step.

Hello? It's me.

I was wondering if after all these years you'd like to meet.

To go over, everything.

They say that time supposed to heal you but I ain't done much healing.

The lyrics take us through a phone call that Adele is making to her long lost love. To say the least it seems that there's still some unfinished business, and Adele needs closure.

Hello? Can you hear me?

I'm in California dreaming about who we used to be

When we were younger, and free.

I've forgotten how it felt before the world fell at our feet.

There's such a difference between us

And a million miles.

Here's another phone call (or maybe she's just leaving voicemails at this point?) and Adele is reminiscing about the past relationship, a time when they were young and free, taking the world by storm. But time changes everything, and they're just not the same two people.

Hello from the other side.

I must have called a thousand times

To tell you I'm sorry for everything that I've done

But when I called, you never seem to be home.

Hello from the outside.

At least I can say that I tried

To tell you I'm sorry for breaking your heart

But it don't matter, it clearly doesn't tear you apart anymore.

Ok, by the chorus it's clear that Adele never got a hold of the person she was trying to call. Even though she called a "thousand times," he just wasn't home (or, more likely, chose not to pick up). She says at least she can clear her conscience because she made the effort to reach out. But it seems that the person she's trying to call just doesn't care.

Hello? How are you?

It's so typical of me to talk about myself, I'm sorry.

I hope, that you're well.

Did you ever make it out of that town where nothing ever happened.

It's no secret that the both of us

Are running out of time.

Here we get a glimpse into yet another phone call, one that Adele apologizes about rambling on. It seems Adele made it out of her small town — duh, she's a superstar! — but something is still holding her back AKA her ex-love. Girl, you won an Oscar, you don't need this.

So, hello from the other side.

I must have called a thousand times

To tell you I'm sorry for everything that I've done.

But when I called, you never seem to be home.

Hello from the outside.

At least I can say that I tried

To tell you I'm sorry for breaking your heart.

But it don't matter, it clearly doesn't tear you apart anymore.

No matter how many times Adele tries to call, the person just doesn't want anything to do with her. We've all been there. It takes two people to get closure, and sometimes that person won't even give you a chance to talk. But there's nothing like a good Adele song to help you move on, and "Hello" fits that bill.

Images: XL Recordings