Stargazing

"Stargazing" by Myles Smith is a heartfelt anthem about the profound and euphoric realization of finding one's soulmate. The core message revolves around the idea that the person you're meant to be with has been a constant presence in your life, even if you didn't recognize it until a specific, transformative moment. The song explores themes of destiny, vulnerability, and the comfort of finding a love that feels like home. The act of "stargazing" serves as a central metaphor for being completely absorbed in a beautiful moment with a loved one, mirroring the awe one feels when looking at the night sky. It speaks to a connection so deep that it feels as though their souls are intertwined, suggesting they were "never strangers" to begin with. Lyrically, the song is a plea for emotional security ("Take my heart, don't break it") and a celebration of the certainty that comes with true love ("They say you know it when you know it, and I know"). It captures the feeling of coming alive in someone's presence and feeling lost without them, portraying a love that is both life-affirming and essential.

The song narrates a profound moment of emotional clarity and the discovery of a deep, predestined love. It begins with the feeling of time stopping, as if a perfect moment is captured like a photograph. Looking into their partner's eyes, the narrator sees their entire future, a life illuminated by this connection. This moment brings a certainty, an intuitive knowledge that this is the right person, expressed with the line, "They say you know it when you know it, and I know."

There's a recurring plea for vulnerability and trust, asking the partner to "take my heart, don't break it" and love them completely. This is paired with a significant realization: the narrator feels they have wasted time searching for something that was right there all along. The central metaphor of "stargazing" is used to describe their connection, suggesting a shared sense of wonder and souls that are intertwined. The feeling is so natural and profound that the narrator declares they were "never strangers," implying a soul-level recognition that transcends time.

The second verse deepens this sense of connection by contrasting the narrator's state of mind with and without their partner. With them, they feel intensely alive; without them, they feel lost. This emphasizes a beautiful dependency and a desire to give their all to the relationship. The song builds on this emotional foundation, reinforcing the themes of destiny and homecoming. The repeated phrase, "you were right there all along," serves as the emotional anchor, a powerful revelation that brings both comfort and a touch of regret for the time that passed before this understanding. The overall story is one of awakening to a love that feels both exhilaratingly new and comfortingly familiar, as if finding a missing piece of oneself.

"Stargazing" was written by Myles Smith, Jesse Fink, and producer Peter Fenn in January 2024. The song was conceived during a trip to Malibu, California, where Smith, having recently signed a record deal with RCA Records, wanted to create something "warm, fun and happy." The inspiration struck while Smith was with friends, watching a sunset over the ocean in Malibu. This cathartic moment of appreciating his life and career led to the song's title. Smith recalls that the core of the song, including the hook, came together very quickly, in about 15 minutes, during a creative session with Fenn and Fink. Before its official release, Smith posted a snippet of the song on TikTok on April 8, 2024, where it quickly gained traction. The positive fan reaction was a significant inspiration for him to complete the track. The final version intentionally kept elements from the original demo to preserve the initial magic. The track was officially released on May 10, 2024, as the lead single from his EP "A Minute...".

The song follows a relatively simple and effective rhyme scheme within its verse-chorus structure, contributing to its catchy and accessible nature. The verses use a loose rhyming pattern, such as the slant rhyme between "photograph" and "last." The chorus is more structured, with lines like "bones" and "along" creating a satisfying sense of closure. The song is set at a moderate tempo of around 124 beats per minute (BPM) with a standard 4/4 time signature, which gives it a driving yet relaxed rhythm suitable for its feel-good, anthemic quality. The rhythmic structure is built around a steady beat, allowing the melody and Smith's vocals to be the main focus. The interplay between the rhythmic pulse and the soaring vocal melodies in the chorus creates an uplifting and expansive feeling, perfectly matching the song's theme of emotional release and discovery.

"Stargazing" employs several stylistic techniques to create its heartfelt and anthemic feel.

• Musical Arrangement: The song begins with an intimate feel, using gentle humming and a finger-picked acoustic guitar, which gradually builds into a fuller, pop-folk anthem. It features a polished studio production with Peter Fenn credited for playing all the instruments, including piano, drums, guitar, and synthesizer. The use of layered vocals and swelling choruses creates a cinematic and emotionally expansive sound.
• Vocal Delivery: Myles Smith's vocal performance is a key element. He starts with a tender, vulnerable tone in the verses and builds to a powerful, booming voice in the chorus, conveying strong emotional conviction. This dynamic shift enhances the song's emotional arc from introspection to euphoric declaration.
• Lyrical Repetition: The song uses repetition effectively, particularly in the pre-chorus ("They say you know it when you know it, and I know") and the chorus ("You were right there all along"). This repetition drives home the central themes of certainty and realization, making the song highly memorable and anthemic.
• Genre Blending: The track successfully blends elements of folk, Americana, and pop. This combination gives it a timeless, accessible quality, with the acoustic roots providing authenticity and the pop production giving it broad appeal.

"Stargazing" became a major breakout hit for Myles Smith, achieving significant cultural influence shortly after its release. It was a massive commercial success, reaching the top 10 in numerous countries, including the UK (peaking at number 4), Canada, Germany, and Belgium. In the United States, it peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and hit number 1 on the Pop Airplay chart, a major milestone for the British artist. The song's popularity was amplified by its viral spread on TikTok, where it was used in tens of thousands of videos, showcasing its resonance with a wide audience. It was named the biggest single of 2024 by a British artist by the Official Charts. The track's success led to Smith winning the BRITs Rising Star Award in 2025 and even earned a spot on Barack Obama's renowned summer playlist, solidifying its place in the cultural zeitgeist of 2024.

The song is rich with symbolism and metaphors that enhance its romantic and introspective themes.

• Stargazing: The title itself is the central metaphor, representing a state of wonder, awe, and deep connection with a loved one. Just as one gets lost in the beauty and vastness of the night sky, the narrator is completely absorbed by their partner, suggesting a love that is both profound and dreamlike.
• Photograph: The line "Time stood still, just like a photograph" is a simile used to capture a perfect, frozen moment of realization. It conveys the desire to make this fleeting feeling of clarity and connection last forever.
• Home: While not explicitly stated in "Stargazing," the theme of finding a "home" in a person is central to Smith's preceding work like "My Home" and carries into the feeling of safety and belonging in "Stargazing." The love described provides a "shelter from the storm," a place of warmth and security.
• Intertwining Souls: This metaphor describes the depth of the connection, suggesting a spiritual or fated bond that goes beyond physical attraction. It reinforces the idea that the two were "never strangers," implying a pre-existing, soulful recognition.

The most significant recurring phrase in the song is the line, "You were right there all along." This motif is the emotional core of the track, repeated in the chorus to emphasize the central theme of realizing that a long-sought-after love was always present. Its repetition highlights the narrator's moment of epiphany. Another key recurring phrase is, "They say you know it when you know it, and I know," which acts as a powerful declaration of certainty and intuition in love. The chorus itself, with the plea "Take my heart, don't break it / Love me to my bones," is a recurring motif of vulnerability and deep emotional commitment. Musically, the introductory acoustic guitar melody and the "Ooh-ooh" vocalizations serve as recurring hooks that frame the song and make it instantly recognizable.