Never Is A Promise

Fiona Apple · Tidal

You'll never see the courage I know
It's color's richness won't appear within your view
I'll never glow the way that you glow
Your presence dominates the judgements made on you

But as the scenery grows I see in different lights
The shades and shadows undulate in my perception
My feelings swell and stretch; I see from greater
heights
I understand what I am still too proud to
mention...to you
You'll say you understand, but you don't understand
You'll say you'll never give up seeing eye to eye
But never is a promise, and you can't afford to lie

You'll never touch these things that I hold
The skin of my emotions lies beneath my own
You'll never feel the heat of this soul
My fever burns me deeper than I've ever shown...to you

You'll say don't fear your dreams, it's easier than
it seems
You'll say you'd never let me fall from hopes so
high
But never is a promise and you can't afford to lie
You'll never live this life that I live

I'll never live the life that wakes me in the night
You'll never hear the message I give
You'll say it looks as though I might give up this
fight ...

But as the scenery grows I see in different lights
The shades and shadows undulate in my perception
My feelings swell and stretch; I see from greater
heights
I realize what I am now too smart to mention...to
you
You'll say you understand; you'll never understand
I'll say I'll never wake up knowing how or why
I don't know what to believe in; you don't know who
I am
You'll say I'll need appeasing when I start to cry
But never is a promise and I'll never need a lie

Never Is A Promise

From Fiona Apple's 2000 album Tidal, 'Never Is A Promise' stands as a defining track of her early career, blending indie rock with introspective songwriting. The recording features Apple's signature raw vocal delivery and a driving, rhythmic guitar foundation that underscores themes of emotional vulnerability and the fleeting nature of commitment. Released during a pivotal era for alternative music, the song exemplifies the album's exploration of personal relationships and societal expectations. Its enduring appeal lies in its unpolished authenticity and the way it captures the tension between hope and disappointment, cementing Apple's reputation as a profound voice in contemporary indie rock.