Indie-rock outfit Amy & The Engine bring depth to singer/songwriter tracks with upbeat synth-pop with a folk-rock stylings. Frontwoman Amy Allen opened up over the groups new single, ‘”Last Forever” and what it means to her.
For me, Last Forever tells numerous stories. It’s the unexpected outcome of a crazy year I went through; it’s a twisted love story forever stuck in my head; a mixed-up friendship that went south; the unending fear that you’re alone in love. But mostly, it’s the hope I have that true love (be it friendship or romance), when found and fought for, could actually last forever.
When I initially wrote the song with my friend Tyler (from Berklee College of Music), I was writing from a place of excitement and nervousness. I was just starting at Berklee, freshly single, meeting new people and loving every second of it. Being in such a transitional period of my life, “Last Forever” took form mostly due to a crush I’d developed for this guy that sat behind me in a songwriting class. But as I got deeper into the song, I realized that it was coming from a place not only of romance, but also of clinging onto a dear friendship that I was subconsciously afraid I was losing. One second my mind was fixated on wanting to be with this new guy I was slowly getting to know, and the next second my thoughts were revolving around this other boy I loved as a friend, but felt I was growing apart from. I think “Last Forever” is the unanticipated lovechild of these two conflicting emotions: the excitement and uncertainty that comes with a new love, and the nervousness and anxiety that comes with losing a love you currently have.
Fast forward four months to a free outdoor music festival that Amy & The Engine played in Harvard Square (Cambridge, MA). We were only on the second song of our set, when this little old man scooted his way to the front of the stage. Immediately the crowd formed a circle around him and at first, I couldn’t tell why. But moments later, when I put down my guitar to pick up my tambourine, I realized that the crowd was cheering for this little, white-haired, adorable senior citizen, as he continued to bust out move after move. As the band took notice, we were all instantly grinning ear to ear and couldn’t help but join in with the dancing on stage. This old man danced through our entire set, waving his hands in the air, hip thrusting, dropping low, you name it – he most likely did it, and by the time “Last Forever” rolled around, I had one of those “movie moments” where for some reason you feel like you’re in a movie and the music around you is the background music, and your eyes are the camera lens. You know, one of those weird, cinematic moments.
It was amazing to see how I had written “Last Forever” from such a personal and somewhat tormented place, but how it was beautifully transformed into this man’s story of loving and enjoying life to it’s fullest. Of course we all know our time won’t “Last Forever,” as nothing ever really does, but maybe that’s just the beauty of it. We only have so long, so best not be afraid to love, to dance or make fools out of ourselves. And as you can imagine, this “movie moment” of mine served as the jumpstart inspiration for the music video we soon after created. 🙂
Last Forever Lyrics
Hold, steady as a stone in need
Oh, something’s comin’ over me
Hush, quiet as the song recedes
More teeth marks on my tongue
If you could read my mind
Peeking over my shoulder
Would you say it was done
When the story was over
Never paraded my heart around
Opened up and laid it down
No don’t go, and leave me in a mess
Goes to show, I need you I confess
Hold my hand, and tell me this will last forever
Maybe I should turn and run
Mom, says you’re just another one
Poor me, wishin’ we could only be
Seen on a cinema screen
If you could read my mind
Peeking over my shoulder
Would you say it was done
When the story was over
Never paraded my heart around
Opened up and laid it down
No don’t go and leave me in a mess
Goes to show I need you I confess
Hold my hand, and tell me this will last forever
Would you turn the page
Of my paper cage
Could you stand to walk away
from every line I ever wrote to you
but never spoke to you
If you could read my mind
Peeking over my shoulder
Would you say it was done
When the story was over
Never paraded my heart around
Opened up and laid it down
No don’t go and leave me in a mess
Goes to show I need you I confess
Hold my hand, and tell me this will last forever
