Released: 2020
Lee Brice’s ‘Memory I Don’t Mess With’ is a heartfelt country ballad that paints a vivid picture of a past relationship. The song is filled with nostalgic imagery and a sense of longing, as the singer grapples with memories he’d rather not confront, fearing they’d pull him back into a love he’s tried to move on from.
The song opens with the lines ‘Red leaves on the river / Footprints in the sand / Cold walk in December / Warming up your hands.’ These lyrics set the scene of a past autumn and winter romance, filled with intimate moments and shared experiences. The ‘red leaves’ and ‘footprints’ are symbols of fleeting moments, hinting at the transient nature of their relationship.
‘Sundress on the front steps / Sun up by the lake / Blanket down in the backyard / Lying wide awake.’ Here, Brice continues to paint the picture of their past relationship with warm, summery imagery. The ‘sundress’, ‘sun’, and ‘blanket’ suggest a sense of comfort and intimacy, while ‘lying wide awake’ hints at deep conversations and shared dreams.
‘That’s a memory I don’t mess with / The girl I was the best with / The one I was obsessed with / Girl, you just don’t get it.’ In this chorus, Brice reveals the depth of his feelings for the girl. The phrase ‘don’t mess with’ implies that he’s afraid to revisit these memories because they’re too painful or too powerful. He admits that she was the one he was ‘the best with’ and ‘obsessed with’, indicating a deep, passionate love.
‘Moonlight on the back seat / Breeze through the wires / Springsteen on the speakers / Girl, I’m on fire.’ This verse is filled with sensual imagery and a sense of yearning. The ‘moonlight’, ‘breeze’, and ‘Springsteen on the speakers’ create a romantic atmosphere, while ‘Girl, I’m on fire’ expresses his intense desire for her.
‘It’s good running into you like this / But, girl, I’m close as I can get / To a memory I don’t mess with.’ In these lines, Brice encounters his past love, but he’s careful to maintain a distance. He acknowledges that it’s good to see her, but he also admits that he can’t get too close, for fear of falling back into old patterns.
Overall, ‘Memory I Don’t Mess With’ is a poignant exploration of the power of past love and the struggle to move on. Brice’s vivid imagery and heartfelt lyrics create a powerful narrative that resonates with anyone who’s ever had to grapple with the ghosts of a past relationship.
