Someday

"Someday" by OneRepublic is a heartfelt exploration of hope, patience, and the search for contentment in a world obsessed with material gain and future ambitions. The song's central theme revolves around the idea that true happiness is not found in the constant pursuit of more, but in the appreciation of present relationships and the promise of a future where that realization brings peace. In an interview, frontman Ryan Tedder explained that the song is about the "grass is greener syndrome" and the pervasive fear of missing out (FOMO). It addresses the tendency to believe that happiness is just around the corner, contingent on achieving the next milestone—be it wealth, success, or possessions.

The lyrics articulate a conversation, possibly internal or with a loved one, where one person feels overwhelmed by life's pressures and a sense of inadequacy ("Some days, I'm treading the water / And feel like it's getting deep"). In response, a reassuring voice offers a different perspective: "Someday, when we're older / We'll be shinin' like we're gold." This repeated promise acts as the song's anchor, suggesting that with time and age, a clearer perspective will emerge, revealing that the connection they share is all they ever truly needed. It's a message about finding value in human connection over the ephemeral chase for more, a realization that will dawn "before we both run out of time."

The narrative of the song unfolds through the eyes of a person grappling with feelings of inadequacy and the pressures of modern life. At times, this individual feels like they are barely staying afloat, overwhelmed by the deep and demanding waters of their own ambitions. Nights are spent drowning in the weight of material desires and societal expectations, the constant chase for things they believe are necessary for happiness. This relentless pursuit often leaves them feeling incomplete and lost, like a ghost drifting through a crowded room, present but unseen.

In these moments of doubt, a significant other provides a comforting and hopeful perspective. This partner consistently reassures them, painting a picture of a future where their current anxieties will fade away. The promise is that "someday," when they are older, they will look back and realize that they already have everything they truly need in each other. They will shine brilliantly, like gold, unburdened by the unnecessary worries that plague them now. This future is depicted as a time of simple, shared happiness, where their bond is the ultimate treasure.

The narrator has been through personal highs and lows, experiencing both the best and worst of life. A pivotal moment, described as taking a chance and a dive, led them to this profound connection. Despite the clarity and reassurance their partner offers, there are still moments of wishing to be anywhere else, struggling to see the simple truth that their partner perceives so clearly. The core message they receive is one of patience and perspective: the contentment they seek isn't in accumulating more, but in appreciating what they have.

The recurring refrain, "someday, we'll be all that we need," acts as a powerful anchor and a promise. It's a mantra against the "grass is greener" syndrome, the fear of missing out on a better life. The song champions the idea that true fulfillment is found not in a distant, idealized future filled with possessions, but in the present connection shared with a loved one. It’s a journey of learning to let go of the perceived needs and embracing the realization that their relationship is the ultimate source of completeness, a truth they will fully grasp before they run out of time.

"Someday" was released on August 27, 2021, as the sixth and final single from OneRepublic's fifth studio album, Human. The album itself was released on the same day, after significant delays. Originally planned for a November 2019 release, it was pushed to 2020 and then further postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, finally being released in August 2021. This extended creation period allowed the band to refine the album, ditching some songs and writing new, better ones to make the project more cohesive.

The song was written by Ryan Tedder, Brent Kutzle, Steven Mudd, Tyler Spry, and Josh Varnadore. Production was handled by Kutzle and Spry. According to the band, "Someday" was one of the most challenging songs on the album to produce, going through numerous iterations before they settled on a version that felt true to the classic OneRepublic sound. The album Human deals with lyrical themes surrounding the pandemic, life, and the connectivity between people. A music video, directed by Miles Cable and Issac Rentz, was released concurrently with the single and album. The video was filmed in Malibu at the same location as their live album, One Night in Malibu, and features the band performing and relaxing in a scenic coastal setting.

"Someday" employs a relatively straightforward and effective rhyme scheme within its verses, often following an AABB or ABCB pattern that gives the lyrics a smooth, melodic flow. For instance, in the first verse, "deep" rhymes with "need," creating a simple couplet that is easy on the ear. The pre-chorus uses the repetition of "say to me" to build anticipation for the chorus.

The chorus itself relies more on repetition than intricate rhyming, with the key phrase "when we're older" and the optimistic outcome being the lyrical focus. The rhythm is consistently upbeat and has a driving, mid-tempo feel, making it feel optimistic and hopeful. The vocal melody follows the rhythm of the lyrics closely, creating a catchy and singable quality. This interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the steady musical pulse contributes significantly to the song's uplifting and inspiring mood, inviting listeners to bop their heads along.

Musically, "Someday" embodies the characteristic OneRepublic sound, blending pop sensibilities with rock elements. The arrangement is built around a bright, acoustic-driven melody that creates an uplifting and buoyant atmosphere. The production, handled by Brent Kutzle and Tyler Spry, is polished and layered, featuring prominent acoustic guitars, a steady drum beat, and subtle electronic elements that add texture without overwhelming the organic feel. The song's structure follows a conventional verse-chorus form, making it accessible and memorable for a radio audience.

Lyrically, the song utilizes a conversational narrative voice. Ryan Tedder often writes from a perspective that feels like an intimate dialogue, either with himself or a significant other. This is evident in the call-and-response nature of the lyrics, where the narrator expresses doubt ("Sometimes I feel incomplete") and is answered with reassurance ("Oh, you say, someday when we're older"). This technique makes the song's emotional core relatable and personal. The use of repetition in the chorus, emphasizing the word "someday," acts as a powerful hook and reinforces the central theme of future hope and certainty.

Released as a single from the album Human in 2021, "Someday" contributed to the band's continued presence in the global pop-rock scene. The album itself marked OneRepublic's return after a nearly five-year gap, the longest in their history. While not reaching the chart-topping heights of some of their earlier megahits like "Counting Stars," "Someday" performed modestly on international charts, for instance, appearing on the New Zealand Hot Singles chart. The album Human garnered over 2.5 billion global streams from its combined singles prior to its release, indicating a significant online listenership.

The song's optimistic and reassuring message resonated with audiences, particularly in the context of the global uncertainty following the COVID-19 pandemic, a theme explored throughout the album. The music video, showcasing the band in a beautiful, natural setting, visually complemented the song's uplifting feel and was well-received by fans. "Someday" is often highlighted by fans for its classic OneRepublic sound, emotional depth, and catchy melody, cementing its place as a favorite track from the Human era.

The lyrics of "Someday" employ several potent metaphors to convey its message of hope and the struggle for contentment.

• Treading Water/Drowning: The opening lines, "Some days, I'm treadin' the water / And feel like it's gettin' deep / Some nights, I drown in the weight / Of the things that I think I need," use water imagery to symbolize feelings of being overwhelmed. "Treading water" suggests a struggle to stay afloat amidst life's pressures, while "drowning in the weight" powerfully illustrates how the burden of desire and materialism can become suffocating.
• Shining Like Gold: The recurring promise that "someday when we're older / we'll be shinin' like we're gold" serves as a central metaphor for achieving a state of pure, valuable, and radiant happiness. Gold represents something precious, timeless, and untarnished. This imagery suggests that the couple's future happiness will be authentic and intrinsically valuable, stripped of the unnecessary anxieties of their youth.
• Ghost in a Crowded Room: The line "been a ghost in a crowded room" metaphorically describes a sense of alienation and invisibility. It captures a feeling of being physically present but emotionally disconnected, highlighting the narrator's past struggles with finding their place and feeling complete before finding solace in their relationship.

The most significant recurring phrase in "Someday" is the hopeful promise that gives the song its title: "Oh, you say someday when we're older." This line, and its variations, forms the core of the chorus and the song's central message. Its repetition serves as a mantra of reassurance, contrasting the narrator's present anxieties with a future filled with peace and contentment. It's not just a phrase but a reported piece of dialogue from a loved one, making the hope it carries feel shared and grounded in a relationship.

Another key recurring idea is the contrast between present struggle and future fulfillment. Lines like "treadin' the water" and feeling "incomplete" are consistently answered by the vision of a future where they "won't worry 'bout the things that we don't need" and will "be all that we need." This recurring thematic opposition between the 'now' and the 'someday' structures the entire narrative of the song, emphasizing a journey from anxiety to clarity. The repetition of "won't we?" after the line "we'll be shinin' like we're gold" is a gentle, rhetorical question that reinforces the certainty and shared belief in this future promise.