Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)

As the song begins, we're drawn into a scene of two people who once shared love, now physically and emotionally distant. There's a sense of aching longing as Journey's lyrics speak of sleepless nights and a desperate reach for what was once so close. This sets the stage for a deeply emotional journey as the singer, likely representing one half of the parted couple, navigates through the stages of separation, from despair to a kind of stoic acceptance.

In the pre-chorus, there's a resigned acknowledgment of the end ('Feeling that it's gone'). It's clear that attempts at mending the relationship are futile ('Can't change your mind'), evoking a tide of sadness. The repeated 'love divides' is a powerful refrain, pounding in the finality of their split but also hinting at love's paradoxical nature; it can create profound connections but also deep rifts.

The emotional rollercoaster peaks with the chorus. It begins as an uplifting message of hope and resilience, suggesting that despite their separate paths, echoes of their union will continue to resonate ('One night will remind you'). However, as it loops back into the reality of heartbreak, there's also a protective element, a wish for the other's well-being in love beyond their own ('True love won't desert you').

The song's bridge and outro reiterate these themes with a plaintive guitar solo that cuts through the heartache, offering a moment of reflection and release. The repeated declarations of love ('I still love you, girl') and the resolve seen in the refusal to accept a loveless future ('True love won't desert you') capture a sense of lingering attachment and undying affection. In the final 'No!' there is the sound of someone holding on to the remnants of what was lost and yet facing forward to the unknown, love-laden future.