During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have been cooped up with their toxic parents, with their annoying siblings, or worse, with nobody. Many people are currently stuck in poor situations, with parents unwilling to accept their sexuality, religious beliefs, etc., and their mental health is suffering significantly as a result. Many people are suffering, and they often feel that they are alone or that nobody understands their struggle. 

However, with “Sometimes,” Kodaline affirms the relatability of this situation and makes me feel like I’m not the only one struggling in the world. 

The song starts with a light and cheery melody with strong acoustic folk vibes, yet it immediately dives into a serious topic. 

It begins, “I’m not looking for an answer / I just hope these words will help whoever’s listening,” but the song itself doesn’t feel sad, a common theme from Kodaline. Similar to Lauv, Kodaline’s songs are often very deep but are sung in such a way that I feel happier after listening to them.

Soon, the song shifts to sound more like a traditional pop song, but it still continues the seriousness of struggling with mental health issues with lyrics like, “All of my friends don’t understand / maybe I’m crazy / maybe I’m blind.”

Yet, this is exactly what people suffering from mental health issues need. Sometimes, there isn’t a clear solution to their problems, but it can mean the world to someone just knowing those around them understand what they’re going through, helping them feel just a little less alone.

Steve Garrigan, the lead vocalist for Kodaline, suffers from anxiety and shared his inspiration for the new single in a YoutTube comment under the official music video. 

“I had a really bad day, and I let it get the better of me,” Garrigan said. “I started writing the song to calm down. For me, it’s a song about accepting the bad days and trying to stay positive.”

Sometimes, that’s all we can do. We can’t wave a wand and make the novel coronavirus disappear or suddenly cast a spell to improve our home situation. All we can do is persevere through these tough times with the knowledge of how much stronger we will be when we come out on the other side. 

And if you think this song is a depressing monologue, trust me, it isn’t. Every time I give it a listen, I feel a little happier and a little more confident in my ability to push through these unpredictable times.

Ultimately, Kodaline teaches us that “Maybe we all get lost sometimes,” and that’s perfectly okay. We are all in this together, and if you’re struggling, there are better days ahead.