"Like It Was" by Echo Drift

Echo Drift’s “Like It Was” is a haunting sequel—or perhaps a deeper reflection—to the emotionally charged “It Wouldn’t Be Like This.” Once again penned by Samuel E Burns, the lyrics dig even further into the emotional fallout of a fractured relationship, not with rage or blame, but with a quieter, aching clarity.

Where its predecessor swung like a breakup anthem, “Like It Was” is a reflective unraveling. It doesn’t scream—it lingers. Burns trades the fiery confrontation for soft devastation, shifting the focus to introspection and the hard truths people dodge in love. Lines like “You wanted the dream, but not the work” and “Had you meant it when it mattered” speak volumes without ornament, delivering emotional punches with surgical precision.

The recurring phrase “like it was” becomes more than a nostalgic anchor—it’s a ghost of what once was, contrasted harshly against what’s left. It’s clever, almost ironic. The repetition is hypnotic, underscoring the idea that love, once distorted by dishonesty or neglect, cannot simply return to its former state. It drives the heartbreak home with restrained elegance.

There’s an undercurrent of maturity and resignation throughout the piece—Burns isn’t just mourning the loss of love, but the loss of truth within it. The lyric “You held onto an idea of love / But you didn’t hold onto me” encapsulates the entire emotional framework of the song: love isn't enough without honesty, presence, and follow-through.

Musically, this track would thrive in a sparse, acoustic-driven arrangement, letting the lyrics take center stage. Think stripped-down guitar, soft percussion, maybe ambient textures that swell subtly behind the vocals—something to echo the emotional space the song inhabits.