Back To You - From 13 Reasons Why – Season 2 Soundtrack

"Back To You" delves into the complex and often painful experience of being unable to move on from a past relationship. The lyrics articulate a story of cyclical love, regret, and irresistible attraction. The core message is about the gravitational pull of a significant past love, one that remains potent despite the passage of time and the knowledge that the relationship is flawed. The song captures the internal struggle of wanting someone you know you shouldn't, even when you are with a new partner. It speaks to the idea that some connections are so profound they feel destined, and no matter the logical reasons to stay away, the heart inevitably leads back to that person. While often interpreted as a reflection on Selena Gomez's high-profile on-and-off relationship with Justin Bieber, it also serves a narrative purpose within the "13 Reasons Why" series, mirroring the themes of lingering attachment and unresolved feelings between the characters Clay and Hannah.

The song narrates the internal conflict of a person who is irresistibly drawn back to a past lover, despite the relationship's inherent difficulties and the pain it caused. It begins with a reflection on how impulsively the relationship started, described metaphorically as taking a "shot" with the hope that time and distance—a "cold evening" and a "couple years"—would diminish the intense feelings. However, every conversation rekindles the old emotions, creating a moment where the narrator has to fight their own desires, pretending not to want the person even though they desperately do.

The central theme unfolds in the chorus, expressing a deep yearning to be with this person even when it feels wrong or when they are with someone new. This person occupies their thoughts so completely that they are impossible to forget. The admission is raw and full of conflict: "I wanna hold you when I'm not supposed to / When I'm lying close to someone else." This highlights the cyclical and almost fated nature of their connection, as the narrator confesses that if given the chance to do it all over, they would inevitably return to this same person. The repetition of "I know I'd go back to you" serves as a resigned confirmation of this emotional loop.

The narrative continues by exploring the destructive yet magnetic pull of the relationship. The ex-lover has the power to "break my heart in two," yet when it heals, it paradoxically "beats for you." This powerful image conveys a sense of belonging and destiny, however painful. The lyrics touch on themes of regret and the maddening nature of this attachment, acknowledging that their thoughts are "running loose" because of this person's influence. It's a battle they feel they cannot win, a fight that seems futile because the outcome is always the same: returning to that individual. The song concludes with this recurring admission, solidifying the story as one of inescapable connection, emotional turmoil, and the bittersweet surrender to a love that is as much a part of them as their own heartbeat.

"Back To You" was released on May 10, 2018, as the lead single from the soundtrack for the second season of the Netflix series "13 Reasons Why," on which Selena Gomez serves as an executive producer. The song was written by Amy Allen, Selena Gomez, Parrish Warrington, Diederik van Elsas, and Micah Premnath. Production was handled by Ian Kirkpatrick, who had previously worked with Gomez on her single "Bad Liar," and the production duo Trackside (Warrington and van Elsas). In an interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, Gomez described the song as a "very special record," explaining that she wanted to convey "a beautiful message in a really complicated way but really fun." She also mentioned that while her first contribution to the show's soundtrack was written specifically for it, "Back To You" was more of her own special project that she wanted to dedicate to the second season. Songwriter Amy Allen noted that the song was also "deeply personal" for her.

"Back To You" employs a relatively straightforward rhyme scheme, primarily using couplets (AABB) and simple end rhymes in its verses and pre-chorus, such as "two" and "you," and "true" and "you." This simplicity makes the lyrics feel direct and sincere. The chorus has a more varied structure but maintains a lyrical flow that complements its melodic hook. The song's rhythm is a key component of its emotional effect. It operates at a moderate tempo of 102 beats per minute in 4/4 time. It begins with a sparse, acoustic guitar-driven rhythm that creates a sense of intimacy and reflection. As the track progresses into the chorus, a driving dance-pop beat kicks in, transforming the song's feel from introspective to anthemic. This rhythmic shift reflects the lyrical contrast between the melancholic memory of the past and the undeniable, energetic pull back to that person. The interplay between the melancholic lyrics and the upbeat, danceable rhythm creates the song's signature bittersweet and conflicted tone.

Musically, "Back to You" is a dance-pop and electropop song that opens with an acoustic, country-influenced guitar introduction before building into a more robust, beat-driven anthem. This dynamic shift from a relaxed, melancholic feel to an upbeat tempo creates a bittersweet atmosphere that mirrors the lyrical conflict. The production, handled by Ian Kirkpatrick and Trackside, features a laidback electro-pop sound similar to Gomez's collaboration with Kygo, "It Ain't Me". The song is performed in the key of F♯ major with a tempo of 102 beats per minute. Lyrically, the song uses a direct, narrative first-person voice, which creates a sense of intimacy and honesty. A key literary device is the use of deixis, with a high frequency of personal pronouns like 'I', 'you', and 'my', which grounds the abstract feelings in a personal, relatable experience. The repetition of key phrases, particularly in the chorus and bridge, functions as a rhetorical device to emphasize the central theme of inevitable return.

"Back To You" achieved significant cultural impact upon its release, largely due to its tie-in with the popular Netflix series "13 Reasons Why," where Selena Gomez served as an executive producer. The song was a commercial success, reaching the top 20 in the US Billboard Hot 100 (peaking at number 18) and becoming Gomez's 15th consecutive top 40 entry, setting a record at the time for the longest active run of top 40 hits for any artist. It performed strongly internationally, reaching the top five in countries like Australia, Canada, Ireland, and the Netherlands, and peaking at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart. The official music video, directed by Scott Cudmore, drew inspiration from French New Wave cinema, particularly Jean-Luc Godard's 1965 film "Pierrot le Fou," and was praised for its quirky, cinematic, and stylistic visuals. The song solidified Gomez's transition into a more mature pop sound and was often interpreted by fans and media as alluding to her highly publicized relationship with Justin Bieber, adding another layer to its public reception.

The lyrics of "Back To You" employ several metaphors to convey the song's emotional depth.

• The opening line, "Took you like a shot / Thought that I could chase you with a cold evening," uses the metaphor of taking a shot of alcohol to describe an impulsive, intense start to a relationship, with the "cold evening" symbolizing a futile attempt to numb the after-effects.
• The most powerful recurring metaphor is the idea of a broken heart that, upon healing, still "beats for you." This symbolizes an unbreakable bond and a love that is embedded so deeply it feels like a part of her physical being, regenerating its affection for this person no matter the damage.
• The lyric "You're stuck in my head and I can't get you out of it" acts as a straightforward but effective metaphor for obsessive thoughts and the inability to emotionally move on, portraying the person as an inescapable mental fixture.
• Within the context of "13 Reasons Why," Clay Jensen's visions of Hannah Baker serve as a visual metaphor for his difficulty in letting go, which parallels the song's theme of being haunted by a past love.

The most significant recurring motif in "Back To You" is the central phrase itself, "I know I'd go back to you." This line is repeated in the chorus and the bridge, acting as the song's emotional anchor and thesis. Its repetition emphasizes the feeling of inevitability and resignation to this powerful emotional pull. Another key recurring phrase is, "You could break my heart in two / But when it heals, it beats for you." This couplet appears in both the pre-chorus and the bridge, reinforcing the idea of a love so profound that it persists even after profound pain, suggesting a cyclical pattern of hurt and reunion. The line "I wanna hold you when I'm not supposed to" also repeats, highlighting the theme of forbidden or complicated desire and the internal conflict at the heart of the song. Together, these recurring elements create a cohesive narrative of an inescapable, all-consuming love.