"2022" by Jay Wheeler is a song that expresses the artist's feelings of surprise, longing, and heartbreak after a relationship has ended. The lyrics convey the narrator's astonishment at how life has been treating them lately. They mention having "I love yous" stored inside them but feeling scared when receiving messages from their former partner, as they know the feelings might not be mutual. The narrator admits to still crying over the lost love and laments that their scent remains a constant reminder. The song continues with the narrator revealing that they dreamed of a life without their ex-partner and are slowly starting to feel like their life and senses will improve with time. However, deep within, something has been broken, and they describe the exact moment when it happened, realizing that they don't want to accept that the relationship has ended. The scent of their lover lingers in their bed. The narrator expresses sadness over their partner's departure, noting that the other side of their bed feels empty without their warmth during cold nights. They mention that Cupid distanced himself in 2022, a year significant to the narrative, and that receiving a message from their former partner brought tears to their eyes. The lyrics reflect how the narrator became enslaved to their partner's heart and now feels lost without it. The morning their partner left, they experienced the feeling of falling. The following night it began to rain, worsening their emotional state. The rain represents a negative influence as thoughts continue to plague them. The narrator ponders whether destiny intended for their partner to leave so that they could dedicate a song to them on Valentine's Day. They declare their willingness to give their life for their partner, even if it means losing it, as they felt the most alive when their partner would come home and embrace them. Overall, "2022" depicts the emotional journey of a person grappling with the aftermath of a broken relationship, exploring their surprise, longing, heartbreak, and the memories that linger.
