Again - Sped Up

"Again" explores the themes of regret, longing, and the painful realization of loss immediately following a breakup. The lyrics articulate the classic adage, "You don't know what you got 'til it's gone," from a deeply personal and emotional standpoint. Noah Cyrus's verses express the immediate remorse and desperation of someone who has initiated a separation only to be instantly consumed by the desire to reverse it. She pleads to be seen as a "lover" again, not just a "friend," highlighting the pain of demotion in a relationship and the yearning for intimacy that has been lost. XXXTENTACION's contribution provides a contrasting yet complementary perspective of inner turmoil. His verse, describing being "somewhere in between in love and broken," suggests a state of emotional hell and confusion, indicating that the pain is shared, even if the desire for reconciliation is expressed differently. The song captures the volatile and often toxic cycle of breaking up and making up, where the fear of definitive loss triggers an intense craving for what was once taken for granted. The collaboration itself blends Cyrus's sorrowful pop vocals with XXXTENTACION's raw, emo-rap delivery, creating a sonic landscape that mirrors the chaotic and heartbreaking nature of the relationship described.

The narrative of the song unfolds from the perspective of someone who has just ended a relationship, a decision they immediately realize was a grave error. The opening lines, delivered by Noah Cyrus, establish this sense of immediate regret. She tells her former partner that they have made a significant mistake, one they will come to lament. There's a warning that having possessed something and then letting it go will only lead to a state of perpetual wanting. This sets up the central theme: the painful lesson of not appreciating what you have until it is gone.

The pre-chorus questions whether the preceding difficulties in the relationship were truly insurmountable, hinting that perhaps they weren't. It suggests a moment of awakening, a sudden clarity that will dawn on the person who initiated the breakup. This leads into the chorus, which is a raw and desperate plea. The speaker's desire shifts from wanting to be just a friend to wanting to reclaim the role of a lover. It's a confession of need, an admission of taking the other person for granted, and a repeated, begging request to hear the words "I love you" once more. This section powerfully conveys the torment of realizing a loss and the fervent hope for reconciliation.

The post-chorus, with its simple, repetitive chant of "Again, babe, again," acts as a haunting echo of this central plea. It reinforces the cyclical and obsessive nature of the speaker's thoughts, circling back to the core desire for a second chance and the admission of not recognizing the value of the relationship until its absence.

XXXTENTACION's verse introduces a darker, more tormented perspective, seemingly from the other side of the breakup. His lyrics paint a picture of internal chaos. He speaks of a voice screaming in his head and feeling trapped, running from himself. He describes his emotional state as being caught in a hellish limbo, somewhere "in between in love and broken." This verse adds a layer of complexity, suggesting that the pain is mutual, though manifested differently. His internal turmoil and feeling of being lost complement Cyrus's external pleas, creating a fuller picture of a fractured, toxic, yet deeply connected relationship.

The song concludes by reiterating the chorus, with both voices at times blending, which emphasizes their shared yet separate suffering. The core message remains a stark and relatable one: the profound and often immediate regret that follows taking a loved one for granted, and the desperate, all-consuming wish to turn back time and hear those words of affection just one more time.

"Again" was written by Noah Cyrus, the British musician and producer Labrinth (Timothy McKenzie), and XXXTENTACION (Jahseh Onfroy). The track was produced by Labrinth. The song was released on September 22, 2017, as a single. Noah Cyrus revealed in an interview that the inspiration for the song came from a personal experience with a past relationship. The idea sparked after an argument led to a discussion about taking a break, which triggered an immediate feeling of regret and the realization of taking the other person for granted. Labrinth had initially created the chorus as a voice recording with Cyrus in mind, and upon hearing it, she insisted they work on it immediately. XXXTENTACION's involvement came about, and although he and Cyrus never met in person, they communicated via FaceTime and text. He recorded his verse and sent it back to her. At the time of the collaboration and the music video's filming, XXXTENTACION was incarcerated. The music video was shot for a reported budget of around $500-$600 at Waverley Cemetery in Sydney, Australia, during a tour. The collaboration sparked some controversy due to the allegations of abuse against XXXTENTACION, with some listeners criticizing Cyrus's decision to work with him.

"Again" is set to a slow tempo, around 120 BPM, which can also be felt at a half-time of 60 BPM, underscoring the song's sorrowful and reflective mood. The rhythm is rooted in a modern trap beat, providing a heavy, lurching foundation for the vocals. The song is in a 4/4 time signature. The rhyme scheme is relatively straightforward, contributing to its pop accessibility. In Cyrus's first verse, an AABB rhyme scheme is used ("mistake"/"take", "darling"/"wanting"). The chorus employs a more complex but still structured rhyme pattern. For example, "friend" rhymes with "again," creating a strong, memorable couplet at the core of the song's plea. XXXTENTACION's verse uses internal and slant rhymes like "head," "slept," and "hell," which adds to the feeling of internal chaos and disjointed thought. The interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the musical rhythm is key; Cyrus's vocals often float over the beat with a fluid, emotional cadence, while XXXTENTACION's flow is more locked into the rhythmic pocket, albeit with a deliberately lethargic and pained delivery.

"Again" employs a blend of musical and literary techniques to create its distinct, melancholic atmosphere. Musically, the song is built on a contrast between Noah Cyrus's soulful, breathy vocal delivery, which has been compared to Florence Welch, and a dark, trap-influenced instrumental produced by Labrinth. The production features industrial, metallic sounds, heavy drum kicks, and a disjunct, haunting melody that creates a feeling of unease and sorrow. The harmony is largely consonant, which provides a strange sense of fantasy that is at odds with the painful lyrics. XXXTENTACION's verse is delivered in his characteristic slurred, slow-burning style, adding a raw, emo-rap texture to the track. Lyrically, the song utilizes direct address and repetition to emphasize its central plea. The simple, declarative line "I wanna be your lover, I don't wanna be your friend" is a powerful use of antithesis to define the speaker's desire. The recurring motif of "tell me that you love me again" functions as a desperate refrain. The song follows a strophic, or chorus, form, where the same music is used for the verses while the lyrics change, a common technique in pop music to create a memorable structure.

Upon its release, "Again" garnered attention for both its musical direction and its controversial collaboration. The song was noted for its dark, atmospheric blend of pop, R&B, and trap, with critics highlighting the juxtaposition of Cyrus's soulful singing and XXXTENTACION's raw verse. The music video has amassed over 156 million views on YouTube as of mid-2024, indicating significant and lasting interest. However, the collaboration was met with backlash due to the serious domestic abuse allegations against XXXTENTACION, with many listeners and critics questioning the message of a rising female pop artist working with him. Despite the controversy, the song found its audience and has been covered by other artists, including an Alan Walker remix which was well-received. The track was part of Cyrus's early establishment as an artist distinct from her famous family, exploring darker, more introspective themes in her music. She performed the song live on tours, including as an opener for Katy Perry's Witness: The Tour, and on The Tonight Show. The song remains a notable point in both artists' discographies, remembered for its moody sound and the contentious nature of its pairing.

The most prominent symbolism in "Again" is found in its music video, which is set in a graveyard, the Waverley Cemetery in Australia. This setting visually represents the death of the relationship. Cyrus wanders among the tombstones, a physical manifestation of the emotional landscape of loss and mourning she is experiencing. The graveyard is not just a place of finality but also one of lingering spirits and memories, which aligns with the song's theme of being haunted by a past love. XXXTENTACION's verse uses the metaphor of being in "hell" to describe his emotional state, caught "somewhere in between in love and broken." This powerfully illustrates a state of immense suffering and internal conflict, a no-man's-land of post-breakup torment. Cyrus's plea to "hold my breath" can be interpreted as a metaphor for anxiously waiting, putting her own life and needs on pause in the desperate hope that her ex-lover will return. The recurring phrase "you don't know what you got 'til it's gone" acts as the central thematic metaphor, a universal truth about human nature and regret that drives the entire narrative of the song.

The most significant recurring phrase in "Again" is the line, "You don't know what you got 'til it's gone, my dear / So tell me that you love me again." This motif serves as the song's central thesis, encapsulating the core theme of regret and longing. Its repetition in the chorus and throughout the song drills the message into the listener, emphasizing the speaker's obsessive rumination on their mistake. The single word "again," repeated in the post-chorus by both Cyrus and XXXTENTACION, becomes a haunting chant. This simple repetition strips the plea down to its most basic, desperate element, highlighting the cyclical nature of the pain and the singular focus on wanting a second chance. Another key recurring idea is the direct plea, "I wanna be your lover / I don't wanna be your friend," which starkly defines the speaker's emotional state and desired outcome, leaving no room for ambiguity. This directness, when repeated, underscores the urgency and clarity of the speaker's newfound realization.