NIKI - Before (Official Lyric Video)

LYRICS:
You hid me in your dorm room
It was Halloweekend, I just flew
across the globe, 22 hours just to see you
Just to barely fit on your twin-sized bed
and talk about your cool new friend
who I never met
who you dated as soon as I left

Carolina autumn
It had been a year since I saw you, since we
Ended it, had a year to grow into the girl you always wanted
now we’re holding hands, as not quite friends, but not quite lovers,
but we’ll just pretend
You say “it’s complicated to make amends”
Well is that the way that we’re headed then?

And you couldn’t answer me
Though you could pull me in while I brushed my teeth and let your hands both freely speak like I wasn’t ever gonna leave

You were all I’d ever known
And now I’m supposed to love you from a distance, like it’s nothing like its instant
and youuuu say “let’s just see where this goes”
And I don’t know how or why you seem just fine coz I’m having to grasp that you’re somehow not mine anymore
It’s so cruel how things are only almost like they were before

(ah ah ah) Like they were before
(ah ah ah) Like they were before
(ah ah ah) Like they were before

We walk downtown and it’s charming
You’re alarmingly disarming
Yeah we’ve got 48 hours left
before I fly back to my death
while you stay just fine and feel alive
South of the Mason-Dixon line
where everyone closes shop at 9,
where you could somehow finally find

what you were desperately looking for
Funny how you thought that was gonna be New York
with our chalkboard walls and slanted floors
Oh, we could’ve had that and so much more

Ask your new lover what it’s like to be given
a real fighting chance before you bid her good riddance
Did anything ever really count
or was I just a two-year practice round

Youuuu were all I’d ever known
And now I’m feeling stupid, you’re forbidden
They say yeah we were something,
too bad we were children
Ooooh I don’t know where to go
and I don’t know how or why you seem just fine
coz I’m looking at you & God knows you’re not mine anymore
It’s so cruel how things will never be the way they were before

Like they were before
It’s almost just like how it was before
But it’s not anymore

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[kevinpham]

"Did anything ever really count, or was I just a two-year practice round?"

That line hit me

[Jo-ifpr]

I like NIKI not only because of her voice but the meaningful lyrics

[christdiati]

"It's so cruel how things are only almost like they were before"

This hit me

[claudiamarie]

i don't know why but this gave me Taylor's folklore vibe and what a great song this is, well done Niki!

[electricfirework]

The fact that this song comes out while i'm experiencing what it's about makes it hurt so much but sound much better too 😂

[kydiecardillo]

Niki is not only a singer, but also a story teller.

[randomgirl]

Her storytelling skill is so good. The imagery is just 👩‍🍳💋

[eo]

"Now we're holding hands
As not quite friends, but not quite lovers" i've felt that before. everything seems like we had that commitment except we don't. no label for 3 years.

[purypuspasary]

"now we're holding hands, as not quite friends, but not quite lovers, well we'll just pretend, you say it's complicated to make amends"


hit me real hard
Sh*t happens, well i guess i got my soundtrack to play on loop for stupid me

[stefanishinta]

this has minor evermore energy... if the new album sounds like this, it will be evermore's younger sister who stays in the city to pursue her dreams

[EndlessDream]

Niki’s voice is so addicting. Great song. So soothing.

[thoseshitufind]

the way she described it, it almost like im the one who went thru all that and im choking in my tears rn. bravo niki 🔥

[thedils]

1]
You hid me in your dorm room, it was Halloweekend
I just flew across the globe, 22 hours just to see you
Just to barely fit on your twin-sized bed
And talk about your cool new friend
Who I never met, who you dated as soon as I left

[Verse 2]
Carolina autumn, it had been a year since I saw ya
Since we ended it, had a year to grow into the girl you always wanted
Now we're holding hands
As not quite friends, but not quite lovers
Well, we'll just pretend
You say, "It's complicated to make amends"
Well, is that the way that we're headеd, then?



[Pre-Chorus 1]
And you couldn't answer me
Though you could pull mе in while I brushed my teeth
And let your hands both freely speak
Like I wasn't ever gonna leave

[Chorus]
You were all I'd ever known
And now I'm supposed to love you from a distance
Like it's nothing, like it's instant
And you say, "Let's just see where this goes"
And I don't know how or why you seem just fine
'Cause I'm havin' to grasp that you're somehow not mine anymore
It's so cruel how things are only almost like they were before

[Post]
(Ah, ah, ah)
Like they were before (Ah, ah, ah)
Like they were before (Ah, ah, ah)
Like they were before (Ah, ah, ah)

[Verse 3]
We walk downtown and it's charming
You're alarmingly disarming
Yeah, we've got 48 hours left before I fly back to my death
While you stay just fine and feel alive
South of the Mason-Dixon line
Where everyone closes shop at 9
Where you could somehow finally find
[Pre-Chorus 2]
What you were desperately looking for
Funny how you thought that was gonna be New York
With our chalkboard walls and slanted floors
Oh, we could've had that and so much more
Ask your new lover what it's like to be given
A real fighting chance before you wish her, "Good riddance"
Did anything ever really count, or was I just a two-year practice round?

[Chorus]
You were all I'd ever known
And now I'm feeling stupid, you're forbidden
They say yeah we were something, too bad we were children
Oh, I don't know where to go
And I don't know how or why you seem just fine
'Cause I'm lookin' at you and God knows you're not mine anymore
It's so cruel how things will never be the way they were before

[Outro]
(Ah, ah, ah)
Like they were before (Ah, ah, ah)
It's almost just like how it was before (Ah, ah, ah)
But it's not anymore

[plaguedoctor]

another breakup song from queen Niki, I'm so deeply touched by the lyrics like I was experiencing the story behind the song. this song can be used as an OST of a series.

[TiaLiszawati]

I’m laughing out loud because this song is too close to home🤣 the difference is I didn’t fly 22 hours across the globe. But I DID visit him at early college year and met his new cool friends for the first time🤣 I bet i’d cry out loud if this song was realeased 5 years ago. Thank you for realeasing it today😅

[nikahannahangel]

I'll always be glad to be her fan BEFORE she blows up!

[cdee]

“now i’m supposed to love you, from a distance, like it’s nothing, like it’s instant”
this line hits so hard with what i’m going thru at the moment :(

[feisty_]

NIKI's voice is like magic. So soothing that it keeps lingering in my mind.

[awaruwidianto]

like how could she puts stories of her own in such beautiful lyrics~ i cant get how geniusly talented some songwriters are

[doobydoba]

Niki just took me back to 2017 and made me feel things damn