"When You Were Mine" by Joy Crookes is a song about reflecting on a past relationship and coming to terms with the fact that the person she was once involved with has moved on and found happiness with someone else. The lyrics suggest that the relationship was filled with moments of bliss, represented by the line "Was it love or nicotine? That made us mellow on the 35." The 35 refers to the bus line in London, implying that their romance was perhaps fleeting and transient. The song references specific locations in London, such as Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, and Electric Avenue, which create a sense of nostalgia and longing for what once was. It also hints at the protagonist's feelings of jealousy and resentment towards the new couple, as she observes them being affectionate with each other and feeling a sense of discomfort and longing for a similar kind of love. The chorus emphasizes the dichotomy between the past and present, as she sings, "Shoulder to shoulder, smile with a Brixton shine, but you weren't that guy when you were mine." This line suggests that while they may have had moments of happiness together, she now realizes that he wasn't truly the person she thought he was. Overall, "When You Were Mine" reflects the bittersweet emotions that arise when a person looks back on a past relationship and realizes that things weren't as perfect as they seemed. It explores themes of jealousy, longing, and self-reflection, as the protagonist acknowledges her own desires for a future partner who will treat her better than he did.
