Poking fun at the lackluster life
of adults, All Time Low employs first person narrative point of view, literary metaphors,
and fantasy-like allusions to reject the transition toward dull, predictable
adulthood in favor of feeling "forever young."
First person narrative point of
view highlights the speaker’s attitude toward adult life. It is evident the
speaker has reached the point in their life where they must begin taking on
responsibilities. The speaker realizes it’s time to “say goodbye to the halls
and the classes” and instead, “say hello to a job and the taxes”. They understand it’s time to trade in the
life of a carefree teenager to join the adult world, but their tone indicates a
reluctance to make this change. The speaker has a negative and cynical view on
getting older. “Tell me how you feel over and done with” says All Time Low’s
singer to his love interest. He believes now that they are growing up, the
golden years are behind them. The speaker also talks about trying to make his
relationship with this girl work, despite the mistake they had seen be made in
the past, as well as the odds against them. “I’ll say it’s all about stickin’ in
it out” he tells the girl “And trying to feel forever young”. He thinks that
they can not only make the relationship work, but also live life to the fullest
together. With first person narrative point of view, we are given insight on
the speaker’s personal opinions regarding adult life as well as their optimism
and hope for their relationship with the love interest.
The presence and usage of metaphors
in “Somewhere in Neverland” helps further connect to the overall theme of
wanting to stay young forever. The speaker compares his love interest to the
fictional character Wendy in Peter Pan. He begs her to stay with him: “Wendy we
can get away/ I promise if you’re with me, say the word and we’ll find a way”.
The use of Wendy, the girl who visits Peter Pan in Neverland, portrays the want of the speaker for them to live a life full of excitement and not settle for the boring lives of adults. The speaker also
references lost boys, the young boys who stay with Peter Pan forever as kids. “I
can be your lost boy, your last chance” the singer says, “Your ‘everything
better’ plan”. He tells his love interest he can be the one to help her live
life the way she wants to and not succumb to the pressures of growing up; that
he can “save” her. By using metaphors pertaining to Peter Pan, a book about
wanting to have the freedom of youth forever, there is an understanding that
although the speaker has to get older, he will not let his younger years be the
best times of his life. He plans on making the most of what he has, and live
life with same carefree attitude he always has had.
All Time Low’s singer makes numerous
allusions to a well-known book and song throughout “Somewhere in Neverland.”
Besides the metaphorical allusions to Wendy and the lost boys, the title of the
song itself is also an allusion to Peter Pan. The speaker says that he and his
love interest can make a life together where they will always feel young. He
knows where that place can be: “somewhere in Neverland”. In Peter Pan,
Neverland is the place where kids can stay young forever and never grow up. By
using this specific allusion, the speaker describes that although they can’t
actually go to a place where they will always feel young, just by being
together, they can make their own “Neverland”. The speaker also alludes to a
popular song title, one used by many artists, in the song. “We’ll sing along to ‘Forever Young’.” he
says to his love interest. Singing of staying young forever reinforces the idea
of not wanting to grow up. The allusions used throughout “Somewhere in
Neverland” help further tie in the overall message of the song with
references to famous books and songs.
In "Somewhere in
Neverland", All Time Low illustrates the desire for the speaker and his
love interest to maintain their relationship and not lose the excitement of
youth as they transition into adulthood. The utilization of first person narrative
point of view, literary metaphors, and fantasy-like allusions all contribute to
the universal theme of the song. Point of view gives perspective on the not
only the speaker's cynical attitude toward adult life, but also their youthful
optimism in regards to their relationship with the girl he addresses throughout
the song. The metaphors are tied into the allusions because of the references
to Peter Pan, and both portray the theme of characters that rebel against the
idea of growing up. All Time Low puts into words what every teenager and young
adult feels at one point in their life: the fear of responsibility and leaving
the best times behind them. There is also an underlying feeling of hope, however, that maybe staying forever young isn't as impossible as it seems.
