The song lyrics describe a person reflecting on a past relationship that has ended and their difficulty moving on. They have high hopes that they could return to how they felt at the beginning of the relationship, but acknowledge that the past cannot be reclaimed and life continues to change despite their wishes. While memories of their time together still haunt them, they recognize they must let go and try to start anew, though doing so is not easy.

1. Kodaline – High Hopes Lyrics
Broken bottles in the hotel lobby
Seems to me like I'm just scared of never feeling it again
I know it's crazy to believe in silly things
But it's not that easy
I remember it now, it takes me back to when it all first started
But I've only got myself to blame for it, and I accept it now
It's time to let it go, go out and start again
But it's not that easy
But I've got high hopes, it takes me back to when we started
High hopes, when you let it go, go out and start again
High hopes, when it all comes to an end
But the world keeps spinning around
And in my dreams, I meet the ghosts of all the people who have come and gone
Memories, they seem to show up so quick but they leave you far too soon
Naïve I was just staring at the barrel of a gun
And I do believe that, yeah
But I've got high hopes, it takes me back to when we started
High hopes, when you let it go, go out and start again
High hopes, oh, when it all comes to an end
Now the world keeps spinning
Yeah, the world keeps spinning around
High hopes, it takes me back to when we started
High hopes, when you let it go, go out and start again
High hopes, oh,
And the world keeps spinning
Ooh, yeah, this world keeps spinning
How this world keeps spinning around
Narrative analysis
 This is about a person who already decided to move on with his/her broken
love but still the memory keeps coming back. He/she still hoping that time would
take them back to where they started.
 Realizing that things have changed after someone's life was put on idle
(avoiding work/lazy) and is now hoping to get it back to how it was when it was
good.
 The person is admitting how it's not easy to let go, and perhaps even admit the
fear of not being able to be in love again. People often say we could move on,
and through time it will be better, but the person knows it's not that easily done.
 The person is reminiscing of the days they've had with their love. The person
has high hopes that perhaps they are able to return back to the days, but it's
not possible. Those days are only memories now. The world still moves on,
and time still flies. Beautiful memories are often made, but are gone within a
brief moment. The person is wishing for that feeling and memory to come back,

2. but it was only yesterday... and no matter how sad or nostalgic the person may
be feeling now, the world still spins... and the hopes are only an illusion.
 Related to people who have either lost their loved ones, or just ended a
relationship with someone they truly loved. They realized how people have to
eventually move on, but it isn't always easily done. They are scared of never
being able to move on, or simply being able to love again with someone new.
However, they realized that at some point in their lives, no matter how they are
feeling at the moment, the world still goes on. So, eventually, it'll be ok to go
out and start again.