Eventually

"Eventually" by Tame Impala delves into the complex and painful emotions of being the one to initiate a breakup. Kevin Parker, the creative force behind Tame Impala, has explained that the song is about the torturous feeling of knowing you are about to hurt someone you care about deeply. It explores the perspective of the person ending the relationship, a viewpoint less commonly explored in popular music. The core message is one of reluctant acceptance; the narrator is convinced that the separation, while devastating in the short term, is the necessary path to long-term happiness for both parties. The lyrics convey a profound sense of guilt and sorrow, with the line "'Cause it feels like murder to put your heart through this" illustrating the gravity of the emotional damage being inflicted. The central theme revolves around personal transformation and the inevitability of change, a recurring motif throughout the album Currents. The song captures the internal struggle between the desire to avoid causing pain and the rational understanding that moving on is the right decision. The repeated word "eventually" acts as a double-edged sword: it is both a consoling promise of future healing and a painful acknowledgment of the immediate suffering to come.

A person finds themselves at a difficult crossroads, facing the imminent and painful task of ending a relationship. They express deep regret and compare the act of breaking their partner's heart to murder, acknowledging that they are going back on their promise to never cause them pain. This decision, they assert, will be the absolute last time they inflict such hurt.

The central conflict lies in the knowledge that this painful separation will ultimately lead to greater happiness for both individuals, though this positive outcome is a distant prospect. The narrator repeats the belief that they, and their partner, will be happier in the long run—'eventually.' This word becomes a mantra of hope and a justification for the present suffering they are about to cause.

A profound sense of guilt and a desire to undo the past are palpable. The narrator wishes they could turn their partner back into a stranger, reasoning that if they had never entered their life, this painful change wouldn't be necessary. This fantasy of erasing their shared history highlights the depth of their emotional turmoil and their desire to spare their partner from the impending heartbreak.

Despite the internal conflict and sorrow, there is a firm resolve. The narrator understands that this action is something they must do, and it must be done soon. The procrastination must end because the path to future happiness, for both of them, begins with this difficult step. The song closes on this recurring, bittersweet affirmation: the pain of the present is a necessary prelude to the eventual happiness they both deserve.

"Eventually" was written, recorded, performed, and produced by Kevin Parker, the sole member of Tame Impala in the studio. The song is a key track on the third Tame Impala album, Currents, which was released on July 17, 2015. The album marked a significant stylistic shift for Parker, moving away from the guitar-centric psychedelic rock of his previous albums towards a more synth-heavy, dance-oriented sound influenced by disco, R&B, and pop. The creation of Currents took place primarily in Parker's home studio in Fremantle, Western Australia, between 2012 and 2015. Parker mentioned that a key inspiration for the album's dancier feel was an embarrassing experience at a wedding where a DJ played a Tame Impala song and cleared the dancefloor. The genesis of "Eventually" specifically came to Parker while he was riding on the back of a scooter in Perth. He started singing the melody and lyrics in his head, immediately grasping the song's core theme of initiating a painful but necessary breakup. "Eventually" was released as a promotional single on May 8, 2015, and later serviced to radio in June 2015. The song, and the album as a whole, was a product of Parker's obsessive and meticulous production style, where he labored over every detail of the music.

The rhyme scheme in "Eventually" is relatively simple and direct, often following an AABB pattern in the verses, such as "this" rhyming with "this" and "hurt you" with "do to." This straightforward structure lends an earnest and conversational quality to the lyrics, as if the narrator is directly addressing their partner or rehearsing the difficult conversation. The rhythm of the song contributes significantly to its emotional arc. It maintains a steady, mid-tempo pace that creates a feeling of a slow, deliberate march towards an unavoidable conclusion. The drumming is powerful and serves as a solid foundation for the layers of synths and vocals. There is a dynamic interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the musical rhythm; while the music has a consistent, almost danceable pulse, the vocal phrasing is more fluid and emotive, reflecting the narrator's inner turmoil. The song's rhythmic structure, especially in the recurring outro, becomes almost hypnotic, emphasizing the central theme of 'eventually' and allowing the listener to become immersed in the song's bittersweet atmosphere. The lack of harmonic resolution in the chord progression creates a rhythmic and melodic tension that mirrors the lyrical theme of suspended emotional calamity.

"Eventually" showcases Tame Impala's shift towards a more polished, synth-driven sound. The song is built upon layers of synthesizers, a prominent feature of the album Currents. Kevin Parker utilized vintage synthesizers like the Roland Juno-106 and the Roland JV-1080 to create the track's rich sonic tapestry, which includes organ sounds, pads, and rising synth effects that build tension. Musically, the song employs what is known as text painting, where the music reflects the lyrical content. For instance, the chord progression notably avoids a true tonic resolution throughout, creating a sense of restlessness and unresolved tension that mirrors the emotional state of the narrator who is delaying the inevitable breakup. Parker's vocal delivery is another key element; his falsetto floats over the dense instrumentation, conveying a sense of vulnerability and emotional fragility. The production features heavy use of effects like phasing, delay on the vocals, and fuzz distortion on the guitars and bass, which are hallmarks of the psychedelic genre but are applied within a pop structure. The song's structure builds slowly, transitioning from upbeat, guitar-riff-driven sections to an '80s-style synth ballad, reflecting the lyrical journey from conflict to a hopeful, albeit distant, resolution.

"Eventually" was released as a single from Tame Impala's third album, Currents, which was a major critical and commercial success, solidifying Kevin Parker's status as a leading figure in modern psychedelic music. The album won Best Rock Album and Album of the Year at the 2015 ARIA Music Awards and was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards. "Eventually" itself was shortlisted for Song of the Year at the APRA Music Awards of 2016. The song has been certified Platinum in the United States and Australia, and Silver in the United Kingdom. The track is a fan favorite and a highlight of Tame Impala's live shows, often praised for its emotional resonance and powerful outro. The song's influence can be seen in its adoption by other artists; for example, it was covered by the indie pop band Lucius on their 2018 album Nudes. The cultural impact of "Eventually" is tied to the broader success of Currents, an album that brought psychedelic pop to a mainstream audience and demonstrated Parker's prowess as a songwriter and producer who could blend genre influences seamlessly.

The lyrics of "Eventually" are rich with metaphors that convey the emotional weight of a breakup. The most powerful metaphor is comparing the act of ending the relationship to "murder." This hyperbolic expression doesn't suggest physical violence, but rather the immense emotional devastation and guilt the narrator feels for causing such profound pain to their partner. It highlights the perceived finality and cruelty of their actions. Another significant lyrical concept is the wish to "turn you back into a stranger." This is a metaphor for erasing the shared history and intimacy of the relationship to nullify the impending pain. It symbolizes a deep desire to escape the responsibility and consequences of the decision to leave. The very word "eventually" serves as a recurring motif and a central symbol in the song. It represents a distant, almost abstract hope for future happiness and healing, a beacon that justifies the present pain. This future is not immediate or guaranteed, adding a layer of melancholy and uncertainty to the song's optimistic outlook. The entire song can be seen as a representation of a painful transition, a necessary storm before the eventual calm, which aligns with the overarching theme of personal change in the album Currents.

The most significant recurring lyrical motif in "Eventually" is the title word itself. The repetition of "eventually" at the end of the chorus and in the outro serves as the song's central hook and thematic anchor. It functions as a mantra of reassurance, a bittersweet promise that the pain of the present will eventually give way to happiness for both people involved. Its constant repetition emphasizes the narrator's attempt to convince both their partner and themselves of this future outcome. Another key recurring phrase is the chorus: "But I know that I'll be happier / And I know you will too." This line encapsulates the song's core justification for the breakup, highlighting the narrator's perspective that the separation is a step towards a better future. Musically, the song features a distinctive, descending six-note guitar riff that punctuates key lyrical moments, such as after the line "Well, this is the very, very last time I'm ever going to." This riff acts as a powerful, melodic motif that adds to the song's emotional weight and memorability. The escalating synth line that adds tension is another recurring musical element.