'Thought Of You' by Sam Barber – Lyrics & Meaning

Rising sensation Sam Barber recently announced the arrival of his debut effort, Restless Mind.

His first full-length project is set to arrive on Nov. 1 and will feature 27 tracks and a letter from his grandfather. Several previously released hits, like 'Jersey Giant', 'S.O.B' and 'Streetlight', will be appear on the lengthy collection.

With the long-awaited news came 'Thought Of You', the star's latest single and one more soon-to-be favorite.

'Thought Of You' is made up of hushed acoustics, the sobering song a mix of abrasive strings, weepy steel and hollow drum hits. The faraway sounds lend to the tune's forlorn meaning and the subsequent desolate feeling that so often accompanies with the loss or absence of a loved one.

"It's like the weight of the world is attacking me so slowly
It's the knowing that no one will know me like you know me
They say life is for the living, but most days, I can't agree
'Cause it don't make much sense to be here if you're not here with me"

'Thought Of You' finds Barber ruminating on someone long gone, the melancholic offering becoming a relatable ode to loss and perfectly capturing the ensuing emptiness that follows such bereavement.

The song follows grief, encapsulating the feelings of being haunted by a memory. It's everywhere and in everything as Barber attempts to overcome such sorrow.

"I woke up in the dark with your voice in these walls
Talking like how we used to do
Every memory burns like the leaves in the fall
You were here, now you're gone
So I'll just hold the thought of you
I'll just hold the thought of you
I'll just hold the thought of you"

While the memory of a lost loved one feels almost tangible at times, the singer has to come to terms with their departure. If he can't physically be with them, he is resigned to holding tight to them in his mind.

He tries to remember better days when they were together, singing "Remember being too young when the grass was still at our knees..." However, the person is gone – unfortunately when they're needed the most – and Barber sings how he'd rather be a ghost too.

He justifies, "'Cause it don't make much sense to be here if I'm on my own."

Still, he holds their memory close, knowing they may be gone, but they can live forever in his thoughts.

"So I'll just hold the thought of you"

While Barber hasn't shared the specifics of 'Thought Of You', the young star has shared the finer details of his forthcoming debut, a project that he explains has been a longtime coming.

“Restless Mind is the culmination of my whole music career," he shared on social media upon the album's announcement. "Every day off from touring I had in the past year I spent my time writing and recording Restless Mind. I never imagined my debut album would be 28 songs, let alone I also never would have imagined being able to work with the level of people I was able to make this album with. I’ve put everything I’ve got into writing and recording these songs. I am so thankful for the artists, my family, my friends, my team, and of course all the fans that support me and my music. It feels surreal that this project is finally going to be seen by the world."

It's like the weight of the world is attacking me so slowly
It's the knowing that no one will know me like you know me
They say life is for the living, but most days, I can't agree
'Cause it don't make much sense to be here if you're not here with me

I woke up in the dark with your voice in these walls
Talking like how we used to do
Every memory burns like the leaves in the fall
You were here, now you're gone
So I'll just hold the thought of you
I'll just hold the thought of you
I'll just hold the thought of you

So I'll just hold the thought of you

Remember being too young when the grass was still at our knees
You're the one that I lost but the only one that I need
They say life is for the living, but these days, I'd rather be a ghost
'Cause it don't make much sense to be here if I'm on my own

I woke up in the dark with your voice in the walls
Talking like how we used to do
Every memory burns like the leaves in the fall
You were here, now you're gone
So I'll just hold the thought of you
I'll just hold the thought of you
I'll just hold the thought of you

So I'll just hold the thought of you

--

For more on Sam Barber, see below: