The song "Jukebox" by Ben Hazlewood tells a story of longing, nostalgia, and the desperate desire to hold onto memories of a lost friendship or relationship. The protagonist is feeling lost and empty without the person they are singing about, and they seek solace in the music that reminds them of their friend. The lyrics convey a sense of emptiness and longing, with lines like "It would take the world to swallow me whole before I could call this my own" and "In the emptiness that I'm feeling without you." The protagonist feels incomplete and searches for a connection, yearning for the lights to guide them back towards familiarity and comfort. When the nights get cold and lonely, the protagonist tries to find a piece of their friend in everything around them, in hopes of keeping them near. They express their desire to have their friend's presence back and to relive the memories they had together. The song also touches upon broken promises, signifying that the protagonist has kept the secret of their friend close to their heart. The dreams they shared collided for a brief moment in their lives when both were at a low point, and they didn't want to let go of that bond. As the song progresses, the protagonist asks for a favor from someone, possibly addressing a stranger, to borrow some money to keep a specific song on repeat. This song acts as a reminder of their friend, and the protagonist asks the stranger to play that record again and again, as it brings back memories and provides comfort. The lyrics emphasize the importance of the song in preserving the memories of the friend, and the protagonist states that they would listen to it repeatedly to hold onto the connection they once had. They fear that the memories are fading and express their unwillingness to lose even a single minute or day without their friend in it. In essence, "Jukebox" is a heartfelt plea to hold onto the memories of a lost friendship or relationship. The protagonist seeks solace and an escape from the emptiness through the music that reminds them of their friend's presence.
