Ever had that moment where a song just guts you? You’re driving, or maybe just staring at a wall, and suddenly some British singer with a voice like spun sugar is telling your entire life story. That’s basically the experience of hearing nao another lifetime lyrics for the first time.
Honestly, most people think it's just another "I miss my ex" anthem. But if you actually sit with it, the song is way messier—and more hopeful—than that. It’s about the brutal realization that sometimes being "perfect" together isn't enough to make a relationship survive the real world.
Why the Saturn Return Changes Everything
To get why these lyrics hit so hard, you have to talk about astrology. Not the "what’s your sign" fluff, but the heavy stuff. Nao wrote this right as she was hitting her Saturn Return.
In astrology, Saturn comes back to the position it was in when you were born roughly every 29 years. It's supposedly this period of massive upheaval. Jobs break. Friendships end. Long-term relationships crumble. For Nao, this wasn't just a theory; it was the blueprint for her second album, Saturn.
She was ending a six-year relationship. Six years. That’s a lot of history to pack into a three-minute track. When she sings about waiting another lifetime, she’s not necessarily saying "I want you back right now." She's acknowledging that in this current timeline, they are fundamentally broken.
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The Lyrics That Actually Matter
There’s a specific line in the song that kills me every time: "How I wish perfect was enough for my own heart."
It’s a confession.
She’s admitting that on paper, everything was fine. Maybe he was great. Maybe they didn't even have "big" fights. But the internal spark—that growth she needed—wasn't there. You can love someone to pieces and still know you have to leave them to become who you're supposed to be.
The Kiev Connection and Visual Grief
If you haven't seen the music video, you're missing half the story. Directed by Zhang + Knight, it was filmed in Kiev, Ukraine.
It’s haunting.
You see Nao wandering through these empty, cold streets while orange sparks rain down around her like falling stars. It feels like the end of the world, which is exactly what a breakup feels like when you’re 28 and your entire identity was wrapped up in another person.
The contrast between her delicate, "wonky funk" vocals and the stark, industrial backdrop of Kiev reinforces the lyrics. It’s about the "unsettling" nature of growth. You're shedding an old skin, and it hurts.
Misconceptions About the Ending
A lot of fans on Reddit and Genius argue about whether the song is about death or a breakup. Honestly, it’s both. It’s the death of a version of yourself.
When Nao sings, "I'll wait another lifetime," she’s leaning into a sort of tragic optimism. It’s the ultimate "right person, wrong time" sentiment.
- The "Mistake" Factor: She sings, "I know how to make mistakes, wasn't grown enough to fake them." This is a huge shift from her earlier work on For All We Know.
- The Production: Producer Stint used these weird, expressive breaks between words. It makes the song feel like she's literally catching her breath between sobs.
- The Timing: Released in June 2018, it served as the lead single for an album that would eventually get nominated for a Mercury Prize and a Grammy.
What to Do With This Song Now
If you’re currently spiraling because of a breakup, nao another lifetime lyrics are a double-edged sword. They’ll make you cry, but they also provide a weird kind of permission to move on.
Don't just listen to the hook. Listen to the verses where she talks about the "tortuous ponderation." That's the real work of healing—the overthinking, the wondering "what if," and finally deciding that you can’t fix something that’s already run its course.
Practical steps for your next listen:
Look up the "Saturn Return" period for your own birth chart. If you're between 27 and 30, you're probably feeling exactly what Nao was feeling. Use the song as a soundtrack for the "purge" phase of your life. Clean out the closet, delete the old texts, and realize that waiting for "another lifetime" is actually a way of freeing yourself in this one.
Go watch the live version Nao performed at the Hackney Round Chapel. The way her voice echoes in a church-like setting adds a layer of sanctity to the grief that the studio version just hints at. It’s a reminder that moving on is, in its own way, a sacred act.