As It Was

"As It Was" by Harry Styles is a deeply introspective and melancholic song disguised by an upbeat, synth-pop melody. The core meaning revolves around the themes of change, metamorphosis, and the sense of loss and loneliness that often accompanies personal transformation. Styles himself stated the song is about "metamorphosis, embracing change and former self, perspective shift and all that kind of stuff." The lyrics explore the struggle of accepting that things, particularly relationships and one's own identity, are not the same as they used to be.

The song juxtaposes a fast, danceable tempo with vulnerable and poignant lyrics, creating a bittersweet emotional landscape. This contrast highlights the internal conflict of processing sadness and nostalgia while putting on a brave face. The lyrics touch on feelings of isolation, with lines like "Answer the phone / 'Harry, you're no good alone'" giving a raw, autobiographical glimpse into moments of loneliness and concern from others. Some interpretations suggest these feelings were amplified by the global lockdown experience.

The recurring line, "You know it's not the same as it was," serves as the song's central thesis, a simple but profound acknowledgment of irreversible change. While some fans have theorized the lyrics allude to specific events, such as his parents' divorce or his relationship with Olivia Wilde, Styles has remained relatively cryptic, allowing for a universal interpretation that resonates with anyone experiencing a significant life transition. Ultimately, "As It Was" is a thoughtful meditation on the exhaustion that comes from navigating fame, personal growth, and the inescapable passage of time.

The narrative begins with a sense of being stuck or held down, as if by an unseen force like gravity. The protagonist yearns for connection, asking someone to reach out, yet simultaneously suggests leaving things unsaid, acknowledging that obstacles have complicated their communication. There's a feeling of irreplaceability directed at this other person, while the singer resigns himself to staying put, trapped in the current state of affairs.

The central, repeated theme is a declaration that things are not the same as they once were, a sentiment shared between the singer and the person he's addressing. This phrase underscores a profound shift in their world and relationship. The world has shrunk to just the two of them, yet the old dynamic is gone forever.

The second verse becomes more specific and personal, painting a scene of isolation and concern. An external voice, perhaps an inner thought or a concerned friend, directly addresses the singer by his first name, Harry, telling him he's "no good alone." This is followed by questions that reveal a state of depression or self-destruction: "Why are you sitting at home on the floor? What kind of pills are you on?" The feeling of helplessness is amplified by the imagery of ringing a bell for help, only to be met with silence. This personal struggle is then linked to family, mentioning that his father lives alone and is worried about his well-being, adding a layer of inherited loneliness or a cycle of solitude.

The bridge introduces a sense of urgency and a desire to escape or move forward. The lines "Go home, get ahead, light-speed internet" suggest a modern, detached way of dealing with problems. However, this is immediately followed by a refusal to dwell on the past or to get into the specifics of who initiated the changes. The mention of leaving America and two kids following someone is a more cryptic, specific detail that hints at a particular real-life situation, suggesting a significant, life-altering event that the singer is reluctant to dissect publicly.

Throughout the song, the upbeat, driving tempo of the music creates a stark contrast with the melancholic and vulnerable nature of the lyrics. This juxtaposition highlights the internal conflict: an outward appearance of moving on and dancing through the pain, while internally grappling with profound loss, loneliness, and the difficult acceptance of a new reality.

"As It Was" was written by Harry Styles alongside his frequent collaborators, producers Kid Harpoon (Thomas Hull) and Tyler Johnson. It was released on April 1, 2022, as the lead single from his third studio album, Harry's House. The song was recorded at Henson Recording Studios in Hollywood.

The creation process was rooted in Styles' personal experiences and feelings of transition. Producer Tyler Johnson described the initial spark of the song coming from Styles playing a riff on a Moog One synthesizer. Johnson then joined in, and Styles began writing the melody and lyrics. The memorable "Dah, dah, dah..." lead line was an immediate contribution from Styles. The line "Answer the phone, 'Harry, you're no good alone'" was a moment where Styles began referring to himself in the third person, a detail that Johnson noted came straight from Harry's heart. Kid Harpoon was credited with the idea of adding the hook-like phrase "You know it's not the same..." after the chorus.

Interestingly, Styles revealed the song was originally written at a much slower tempo, which he described as "a death march," before the synths and faster drums were added. The track was almost completely finished within three or four days, with the bridge being added shortly after.

A notable element of the song is the opening voice memo, "Come on, Harry, we wanna say good night to you!". Styles confirmed this is the voice of his goddaughter, Ruby Winston, daughter of producer Ben Winston. She used to call him every night before bed, and one time when he missed the call, her parents sent him that recording. He found it while in the studio and decided to add it to the track, where it stuck.

The rhyme and rhythm of "As It Was" create a compelling contrast between its musical energy and lyrical vulnerability.

Rhythm:

The song is characterized by a very fast tempo, approximately 174 beats per minute, which gives it an energetic, danceable quality. The rhythmic foundation is built on a driving drum machine beat and a persistent synth bassline. A key rhythmic element in the verses is the use of triplets in the vocal melody (e.g., on "Hold-ing me back"). This creates a complex, slightly syncopated feel against the steady eighth-note pulse of the accompaniment. In the chorus, the rhythm simplifies, with the melody aligning more directly with the beat, which makes the hook more direct and memorable. This contrast between the rhythmically intricate verses and the straightforward chorus is a classic pop songwriting technique that makes the chorus feel like a release of tension.

Rhyme Scheme:

The song employs a relatively simple and direct rhyme scheme. The verse structure uses approximate rhymes, for instance, in the first verse: "back," "hand," and "that" create a loose rhyming group, followed by "say," "way," "replaced," and "stay" (AABB). The chorus is even more insistent, with the repetition of "us" and "was" creating a strong, memorable hook. This straightforward approach to rhyme ensures the lyrics are clear and impactful, allowing the emotional weight of the words to land without complex poetic structures distracting from the message.

"As It Was" marks a stylistic shift for Harry Styles, blending literary depth with specific musical choices.

Musical Techniques:

• Synth-Pop and New Wave Influence: The track is heavily inspired by 1980s synth-pop and new wave, with a driving, fast-paced beat (around 174 bpm) and prominent use of synthesizers and drum machines. Critics have noted similarities to the work of A-ha and Depeche Mode. This upbeat instrumentation creates a powerful juxtaposition with the melancholic lyrical content.
• Vocal Delivery: Styles employs a soft, almost crooning vocal tone. This intimate and vulnerable delivery contrasts with the energetic backing track, enhancing the feeling of personal confession and sadness that underlies the song.
• Instrumentation: The song features a distinctive, hooky synthesizer riff that sounds like warped steel drums, a driving bassline, and the notable inclusion of tubular bells played by Styles himself, which adds a unique, resonant texture to the song's conclusion.

Literary Techniques:

• Second-Person Narrative: Styles frequently uses "you," creating an intimate, conversational feel. This could be addressing a former partner, or as some analyses suggest, he could be addressing his former self, reflecting on his own transformation.
• Third-Person Self-Reference: The line "Answer the phone / 'Harry, you're no good alone'" is a striking moment of self-reference. This technique breaks the fourth wall, making the lyrical content feel exceptionally personal and autobiographical, like hearing an excerpt from a diary.
• Allusion: The lyric "Leave America, two kids follow her" is seen by many as a potential allusion to his then-girlfriend Olivia Wilde, adding a layer of public speculation and personal storytelling to the track.

"As It Was" had a monumental cultural impact upon its release, solidifying Harry Styles' status as one of the biggest global pop stars. The song achieved immense commercial success, debuting at number one on charts in 45 countries, including the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100. In the U.S., it spent 15 non-consecutive weeks at number one, becoming the longest-running chart-topper by a UK artist in Hot 100 history.

The song broke multiple streaming records, earning the Guinness World Record for the most-streamed track on Spotify by a male artist in 24 hours. The IFPI named it the best-selling global single of 2022. Its success was a key factor in the massive debut of its parent album, Harry's House, which also broke vinyl sales records and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 2023.

Critically, "As It Was" received widespread acclaim for its catchy melody, introspective lyrics, and the clever juxtaposition of its upbeat sound with melancholic themes. It was praised for being both emotionally powerful and an "irresistible dance-floor challenge." The song became a global anthem, used extensively on social media platforms like TikTok and played everywhere from coffee shops to fitness classes, cementing its place in the cultural zeitgeist of 2022. Its '80s-inspired synth-pop sound was seen as a refreshing, albeit vulnerable, musical evolution for Styles.

"As It Was" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that deepen its themes of change and isolation.

• Gravity: The opening line, "Holdin' me back / Gravity's holdin' me back," uses gravity as a metaphor for the weight of the past, nostalgia, or a personal struggle that prevents the narrator from moving forward. It symbolizes an invisible force that keeps him tethered to a previous state of being.
• Ringing the Bell: The lyric "Ringin' the bell / And nobody's coming to help" is a powerful symbol of helplessness and isolation. It evokes a sense of desperation, of seeking aid or connection but being met with silence, amplifying the theme of loneliness.
• The Music Video's Red and Blue Jumpsuits: In the official music video, Styles (in red) and a partner (in blue) dance on a spinning turntable. This has been interpreted as a metaphor for his new, more emotionally open self (red) and his past, more guarded self (blue). Their struggle to stay connected on the moving platform symbolizes the difficulty of reconciling these two identities during a period of transformation. The spinning motion itself represents the cyclical nature of life and the feeling of going in circles.
• Tubular Bells: Styles is credited with playing tubular bells at the end of the song. These chimes, often associated with weddings or marking time, can be interpreted as a final, melancholic toll for a past relationship or era, or conversely, as a sound of freedom and moving forward, transitioning from the unanswered call for help symbolized by the earlier "ringing the bell".

The most significant recurring motif in "As It Was" is the lyrical phrase that serves as the song's title and central theme: "You know it's not the same as it was."

• Repetition and Significance: This line is repeated multiple times throughout the song, acting as the chorus's main hook and the emotional anchor of the entire track. Its repetition drills home the central idea of irreversible change and nostalgia. Each time it's sung, it reinforces the feeling of a permanent shift in life and relationships. This phrase is what made the song so "sticky" and relatable for a wide audience in 2022.
• Musical Motif: The main synthesizer riff, a catchy, slightly melancholic melody, acts as a recurring musical motif. It opens the song and reappears throughout, making the track instantly recognizable. This synth hook provides the song's sonic identity and its 80s-inspired flavor.
• Thematic Motif of Movement vs. Stasis: Lyrically and visually (in the music video), there is a recurring motif of movement and its opposite, stasis. The lyrics mention "gravity's holdin' me back," while the music's fast tempo pushes forward. The video visualizes this with Styles running on a spinning turntable, symbolizing the feeling of being in constant motion but getting nowhere, unable to escape the past.