Sheryl Crow and Sting's duet 'Always on Your Side' navigates the complicated landscape of a love that has endured separation and heartache. The song reflects on the retrospective longing and tentative steps towards reconciliation, where past fears and failures are laid bare as both individuals seek clarity and the possibility of a renewed start together.
The song opens with Sheryl Crow's tender introspection, where memories that were neatly tucked away come to the fore, symbolizing past love that lingers despite time and distance. It captures the aching poignancy of what once was, suggesting a nurturing presence that awaited recognition, but was perhaps overlooked or shied away from when opportunities for deeper connection presented themselves.
Sting's verse introduces a candid admission of personal struggles, the play between his virtues and vices, which have possibly sabotaged the relationship. There's a sense of introspection and regret underscoring his words, as if he has come to realize the weight of his actions and the consequential void left by the choices he made.
The chorus provides a haunting refrain that echoes the yearning for an idyllic realm where starting afresh is effortless, an allusion to the hope of healing alongside loved ones. It implies the universal struggle in love and life, questioning whether such a place of perfect clarity and simplicity actually exists or if it's merely a fantastical reprieve from the complexities of human feelings and relationships.
The verses coalescing around the metaphor of butterflies embody the ephemeral, transient nature of happiness and love. Both Sheryl Crow and Sting use the image of butterflies' freedom to accentuate the pain of love that can't be held onto, which seemingly promises beauty and joy but ultimately drifts away, leaving behind confusion and a lingering sense of loss. The repetition of this metaphor frames the central emotional dilemma: the freedom to leave, the desire to stay, and the enduring side-by-side support despite what has transpired.
"My yesterdays are all boxed up and neatly put away"
This metaphor depicts the process of trying to compartmentalize past experiences and emotions, emphasizing the attempt to move on from a previous relationship which continues to influence the present.
"Too afraid to hear the words I'd always feared"
This line reveals a vulnerability and apprehension about facing the ultimate truths within oneself or a relationship, hinting at fear being a barrier to honesty and closure.
"Well, butterflies are free to fly, and so they fly away"
Referring to the freedom of butterflies as a metaphor, the lyrics suggest that love, like butterflies, is unpredictable and often escapes even when we wish to hold it close.
"Was it you that kept me wandering through this life"
This question poses a reflection on whether the influence of the other person has shaped the singer's life path, suggesting a deep interconnection that extends beyond their time together.