Meaning of “Best for Last” by Adele: Lyrics Analysis
Adele, the powerhouse singer-songwriter known for her soulful voice and heart-wrenching lyrics, has dazzled us once again with "Best for Last." At first glance, this song appears to depict a story of unrequited love and the heartache that goes with it. But what if there's more to it than meets the eye? A closer analysis of the lyrics, coupled with a few unexpected cultural and musical references, reveal that "Best for Last" paints the portrait of one's odyssey for authenticity in today's hyper-manufactured world.
The opening lines prompt us to consider that the heart on the sleeve signifies vulnerability. This vulnerability is prolonged as the subject "wait[s] for days on end" for someone else to acknowledge it. Here, Adele cleverly employs the terminology of waiting, evoking the desperation associated with Samuel Beckett's iconic play "Waiting for Godot." In the play, the characters wait in vain for an individual that never comes, reflecting the futility of waiting and the absurdist nature of life. Similarly, the protagonist in "Best for Last" finds herself forever waiting for recognition and validation from her love interest, a Sisyphean task that hints at the greater absurdity of seeking personal significance from external sources.
The chorus, which yearns for the love interest to "say that it's always been me," emphasizes the protagonist's search for exclusive connection. The phrase "you'd save the best for last" references a cultural idiom in which people save the most desirable experiences for the end. It's reminiscent of the popular 500 Days of Summer film, wherein Summer, who doesn't truly believe in love, saves Tom – the person who's been there all along – for last, ultimately revealing a truth about herself and Tom. Adele's protagonist hopes for a similar situation where she becomes the recipient of love that's been elusive and withheld, subsequently emerging as superior among others in the realm of love and affirmation.
As we delve deeper into the lyrics, we find that the song's protagonist perceives her love interest as "just a temporary fix." This phrase conjures images of patchwork solutions, half-hearted measures, and the shallowness of modern relationships. But it is with the line, "This is not rooted with you, it don't mean that much to me," that the protagonist reveals her underlying awareness. She recognizes the transient nature of her connection and the fact that it lacks genuine depth. This epiphany harks back to the counter-cultural movement of the 1960s, when artists like Bob Dylan and The Beatles embraced authenticity and denounced the superficiality of materialism and conformity. Adele's lyrics, therefore, invoke a familiar rebellion against an artificial existence, though one more focused on emotional honesty than societal constructs.
The protagonist in "Best for Last" grapples with a love that remains unmentioned; she waits and clings to the hope that someday their love might be acknowledged and given proper attention. Quoting lines such as "I'm taking these chances and getting away / And though I'm trying my hardest, you go back to her" highlights the protagonist's unrelenting pattern of chasing an idealized connection. This pursuit is strikingly evocative of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby – Jay Gatsby tirelessly yearns for Daisy Buchanan, a symbol of superficiality and materialism, despite her never being able to belong to him. Like Gatsby, Adele's protagonist remains trapped in the vicious cycle of seeking validation and love from the unattainable.
By examining the lyrics to Adele's "Best for Last" through a unique lens that interweaves literary, film, and societal references, a fresh and unexpected theory has emerged: the song reveals itself as an elegy for authenticity, a courageous stand against the artificiality and superficiality prevalent in today's world. Adele invites us to consider the implications of seeking validation from external sources and the saving grace of embracing emotional honesty. This creative interpretation urges the listener to reflect on their personal journey towards truth, connection, and what it truly means to save the best for last.
