Switchfoot: Yesterdays Meaning

Yesterdays Lyrics

The flowers cut and brought inside
Black cars in a single line
Your family in suits and ties
And you’re free

The ache I feel inside
Is where the life has left your eyes
I’m alone for our last goodbye
But you’re free

I remember you...

1. anonymous

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   Jul 20th 2012 !⃝

   I think it's about his wife if he's had one
2. anonymous

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   Mar 11th 2009 !⃝

   It's about his mother.
3. anonymous

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   Oct 29th 2008 !⃝

   For me, the song "yesterdays" is about the death of a very close friend or a loved one... He's lonely because his friend left him but happy because his friend is free and happy in wherever he/she is now (heaven).
   
   -orangegirl24
4. Its_a_Trap

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   Mar 5th 2007 !⃝

   I'm curious as to why I wrote the above interpretation and it's cited as anonymous? I mean, I'm not in this for credit or anything, but it'd be nice for any inquiries to be directed my way.
5. anonymous

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   Mar 1st 2007 !⃝

   It's clear that this is a song dealing with death. It could be about the death of a loved one or a close friend. The opening verse alone seems ample proof of this basic message for the song. (flowers, funeral procession, formal dress).
   
   Jon proceeds to express the emotions associated with the loss of a loved one (heartache, lonliness, etc); he concludes that he will have to carry on, but will never forget.
   
   The song soon becomes quite philosophical, which is why we love Switchfoot. He made a reference in the first verse associating the death with freedom. This would seem to imply that life is a prison (of the mind or spirit) and that the deceased is escaping this; Heaven, or simply a higher state of spiritual being could be the answer. "Until I'm with you, I'll carry on," would also seem to suggest that he will join his friend in this state of being following his own departure from this world.
   
   It would seem that perhaps this struggle (of depression or loss) weighs heavily on his mind, and so he wakes from dreams about the loss somewhat bewildered. But he finds resolve in the belief that this friend would want him to carry on and live (he was Meant to Live for so much more).
   
   The song fades with the beautiful line "Every lament is a love song," suggesting that the sorrow associated with the loss is simply a manifestation of a deeper joy or love that he had for this person.

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