Hello lyrics by Adele, 50 meanings. Hello explained, official 2024 song lyrics | LyricsMode.com
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Adele – Hello lyrics
[Verse 1]
Hello, it's me
I was wondering if after all these years
You'd like to meet, to go over

Everything
They say that time's supposed to heal ya
But I ain't done much healing


Hello, can you hear me?
I'm in California dreaming about who we used to be
When we were younger and free
I've forgotten how it felt before the world fell at our feet


[Pre-Chorus 1]
There's such a difference between us
And a million miles


[Chorus]
Hello from the other side
I must've called a thousand times to tell you
I'm sorry, for everything that I've done
But when I call you never seem to be home


Hello from the outside
At least I can say that I've tried to tell you

I'm sorry, for breaking your heart
But it don't matter, it clearly doesn't tear you apart anymore

[Verse 2]
Hello, how are you?
It's so typical of me to talk about myself
I'm sorry, I hope that you're well
Did you ever make it out of that town
Where nothing ever happened
?

[Pre-Chorus 2]
It's no secret
That the both of us are running out of time


[Chorus]
Hello from the other side
I must've called a thousand times to tell you
I'm sorry, for everything that I've done

But when I call you never seem to be home

Hello from the outside
At least I can say that I've tried to tell you
I'm sorry, for breaking your heart
But it don't matter, it clearly doesn't tear you apart anymore


[Bridge]
Ooooohh, anymore
Ooooohh, anymore
Ooooohh, anymore

Anymore

[Chorus]
Hello from the other side
I must've called a thousand times to tell you
I'm sorry, for everything that I've done
But when I call you never seem to be home


Hello from the outside
At least I can say that I've tried to tell you
I'm sorry, for breaking your heart
But it don't matter, it clearly doesn't tear you apart anymore
×



Lyrics taken from /lyrics/a/adele/hello.html

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Songwriters: Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, Gregory Allen Kurstin
Hello lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Submitted by h0spid

Hello meanings Post my meaning

  • b
    + 68
    Brogue
    I think this song is about growing up. I think she feels guilty about the way she treated someone (an ex) in the past, but she's trying to apologise, even though she knows that the person in question has moved on.
    It's more a case of wanting closure for herself I think; to recognise within herself that the way she treated this person wasn't great. The apology is more for her continued growth - so that she doesn't have to look back and feel like she should have said something, than it being for closure of the subject of the song. Clearly that person has long since moved on, but from the sounds of it, still hasn't forgiven her, and may be unlikely to forgive. But like she says "At least I can say that I tried."
    1 reply
  • d
    + 36
    Diane Dougherty Toth
    This song is called Hello. But at times I hear her sing “Hallo” This song makes me think of Halloween or another term All Hallow’s Eve. October 31st is dedicated to remembering the dead, saints and martyrs. I heard this song for the first time this past Sunday. I believe it is about loved ones in heaven trying to reach out to us on Earth. With grief we do not get their messages. We are not open to this. We can not hear them and are missing their messages. My best friend and my husband recently passed away at 46 years old . After hearing this song several hours later I had an intense connection with both of my loved ones in my life here on Earth. People may die but their souls are still here on Earth and are with us. I so thank Adele for this song. It is powerful and she has connected me in a very special way and is helping me heal. Today’s society is too wrapped up and doing too much. Worrying about tomorrow and not focusing on today. We are so into social media that we miss out on the people we have right in front of us.
    9 replies
  • i
    + 20
    itsme
    I thought at first that this song is for someone who already died and is already on the other side. That would've also be a nice song.
    1 reply
  • b
    + 16
    Belinda Vardy
    I think the way Adele sings this is from the depths of her heart where she has loved and lost a love not in the sense of death but moved on with life choices where you know if you stay in that small town things won't change, your world won't grow, opportunities won't come your way. In the throws of young love, where the most incredible love nothing else matters at the time and because of life and changes the they moved on. Time has given her the opportunity to heal and want to apologise to a past lover for her behaviour/decisions. On the outside is looking back at the situation being able to reflect and know things could have been done differently. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Love is a wonderful thing. One has never known true love until that true love has been lost. I love the depth of the meaning of the song.
    Add your reply
  • l
    + 11
    LoveLost_in_time
    Once you lose a person that you truly loved, you will feel these emotions expressed in the song. Brilliant to the nth degree.

    The lucky few who have not lost a person that they truly loved may find the song less appealing, but to someone like me who would have given everything for that person that I truly loved, these lyrics are a comfort and a reminder of that person who will never know how much she meant to me. It's better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.
    Add your reply
  • f
    + 10
    Facem Bani
    I think she suffered a lot from love. You can understand her vision about love from the way she shouts and I think that she has also had that she can do nothing to bring the love back to life, when the loved one does not feel the same anymore and there is nothing you can do about it, and you just feel disappointed and helpless. Thanks to her we understand that not only us, but everyone has almost the same feeling when falling in and out of love.
    1 reply
  • l
    + 8
    Leann Schmidt
    Adele's voice seems to come from her soul, so intense and powerful. This song means something different to me. It's the apology I needed, but never got. You cannot forgive someone who isn't sorry for what they've done, for the hurt they caused you, the betrayal of your trust. Maybe you move on somehow, maybe you find a way to deal with it, but doing it without the apology is so hard, and it seems like the wound is always a scab, even a million years later. I'll accept the apology, I'll take it from the other side, I'll take it from the outside. I'll let it come inside and heal my heart. It helps me find closure where I found none before, and it's intensely powerful, gut wrenching and even heartwarming. This song makes forgiveness possible.
    Add your reply
  • c
    + 8
    Chuck Adams
    Adele herself has explained that the song is from her older self to her younger self. The lyric "both of us are running out of time" is a warning that fame, for all its costs (which she's apologizing for, though recognizing that it's an ongoing choice: "it clearly doesn't tear you apart") is still a fleeting thing.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 7
    Unregistered
    Excuse my ignorance, but, influenced by the video no doubt, but I thought it was a reference to interracial relationships, the other side being the worlds we can live in, one black, one white. We know that love can bring these two worlds together yet society continues to frown. It's always a challenge that we will always face as be them plentiful or few there will always be those who will frown.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 7
    Unregistered
    Hello how are you? Are you still the same. Lie, cheat, use someone for as long as possible? I bet so, some things will never change. Adele should hang the phone up, be single. It's so much better than running to the only other person we know that wants us. Take whatever is willing cuz we are so codependent. Oh I'm not getting the attention I want here so let me go to the only other place I know cuz that's what I always do when I'm in a relationship. Be patient there's nothing wrong with being single. Sometimes that's so much better and its some fun too. They go back home after couple days. Well goodbye it's let go time I hope you finally are seeing. The email should've let you in on that clue.
    Add your reply
  • m
    + 6
    Maggie-D
    I think the song is a form of an apology that she has only imagined that someone owes her; needs to give her (the apology). That the person has finally realized how much they hurt and scared her. But also maybe an apology to herself for letting herself hurt for far too long.
    Add your reply
  • 1
    + 6
    1938
    This song is so depressing it makes me miss her ex too, she really knows how to capture people's attention. Adele has a way of making everyone feel what she's feeling when she sings I personally would like to know how she does that. Adele doesn't need help making people see what she's feeling she comes right out and tells you exactly what she feelin.
    1 reply
  • U
    + 5
    Unregistered
    I think this song is about Adele breaking up with someone and she moved away to California but still feels guilty for breaking his heart. So she's writing letters to him asking how he is and how much she's sorry for breaking up. But he isn't getting her letters. But I don't get the "we're both running out of time" part, I suppose it means that they re getting old and dying so she wants to forgive him before they die.
    Add your reply
  • HadesDaughter00
    + 5
    HadesDaughter00
    In this song Adele is apologizing to an ex and is basically saying "hello I still exist and I am sorry for the way I treated you, and I understand why you would you wouldn't want to talk, but I still love you" She is saying she knows he has been purposely avoiding her, but she has "grown up" and wants him back.
    Add your reply
  • a
    + 5
    Amiya33
    I think the song was awesome because of how she sung it is the way she was screaming and how it showed him in it and how she was so depressed that he left. And I think she loves him so much and the way that she couldn't lose him so she had to make a song about it and the way her emotion told the song. And the way she wrote it sounded like he was everything to her and she can't live without him. So she's screaming and talking about how he never answers her calls. She really misses him that's what I think she means when she wrote the song. She loves him in the way that she can't are won't let go of if it was up to her they would together for ever and ever.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 5
    Unregistered
    What I felt was how she felt and how she is really responding but he never picks up because maybe he really is furious and saying I don't care about our relationship anymore and they are apart now. So that means they are done for sure and what he is trying to say I don't want to be in this conversation anymore and they are just more into their selves so they are trying to tell you there old self from the past and it might be time to move on and start a new life. Try reasoning and try to understand what they are trying to send to us a message or a relationship.
    1 reply
  • U
    + 5
    Unregistered
    This song is not about an "ex" although people think of it as having many meanings. I heard her speaking about it during a radio interview and it is about herself, her life, etc. Many of us can relate depending on the situations happening in our own lives. Another beautiful song with many meanings.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 4
    Unregistered
    I think it is about her heartbreaking relationship with someone else and she wrote a song trying show him she wasn't to forgive him. She maybe also trying to bring back their love and relationship. I've had that same feeling before and she is trying to say "Sorry I left You. Will you forgive me? This is how much it means for us to get back together. I'm not saying she's single I'm saying she maybe had a best friend that they like broke same with Me and Gonalez. I liked him and he liked me and then someone told him that I lied to him and he broke up with me but them we got back together and now it's a happily ever after with him and me and we got a bay named Lily. I'm in the awesome bar and that is awesome but Adele took lots of time trying to forgive him probably. She may think there is nothing to do about it. She is just so sad. And she felt disappointed and helpless and she was like all hope is gone. Her mid was saying give up and her body was saying try again. You can do it.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 4
    Unregistered
    It's a song about life. Boy meets girl. They fall in love. Then a devastating breakup. Seems to be her fault she is truly sorry but he has moved on fast forward to when they are older and she wants to make up and apologize before they die. She doesn't get to tell him because he is already dead.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 4
    Unregistered
    I think Adele is talking to her alternate self in this song - the one who would exist if she hadn't become famous. As the years go by she is finding herself more distant with who she used to be and finds it harder to imagine what would have become of her life - hence Adele "calls" from "the other side" (of fame) but no one is home (because her "self" is fading "running out of time"). Adele knows that her alternate self would heartbroken by the thought of a famous self that never was.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 4
    Unregistered
    I believe this song is about a person looking back at times when she was younger and she remembers her old boyfriend that she wants to get in touch with but he is never home or he hangs up. When he finally answers she wants to catch up with them maybe to it all again.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 4
    Unregistered
    This song is not about an "ex" of a past boyfriend or s/o but it's about herself. "Hi, how are you" Asking herself "I'm sorry I broke your heart" talking to herself. I understand how you might think that it is about a boyfriend but I would tell you that it is not! I am not trying to be rude to anyone but seriously please do your research before saying what the meaning is I mean seriously. It is not about an ex but about herself.

    Just thought I'd let ya know.
    1 reply
  • U
    + 4
    Unregistered
    I think this song is about a girl who leaves\breaks up with her boyfriend or the opposite. One of the only reasons why I think this is because of the music video and some of the lyrics like, "To tell you I'm sorry for breaking your heart... But it clearly doesn't break your heart anymore". Anyway just letting out my opinion. Have a good day.
    Add your reply
  • b
    + 3
    Batman13
    So, this song definitely has many meanings. But, it has a big meaning in my life. To be honest, it was one of my breakup songs. I was at school. We were in lunch and I asked one of my friends to get my boyfriend (at the time). Turns out he told her that he was breaking up with me. So, it really crushed me because he told a bunch of other people he was breaking up with me but, he didn't tell me. So, we went outside for recess and I to be honest was very mad. So, I went up to him to confront him. But, he kept walking away for me which upset me even more. So, finally I got a hold of him and asked him why he would go to a bunch of other people and tell them that he was breaking up with me. But, wouldn't tell me to my face. So, I asked him to tell me why he was breaking up with me. He then looked at the ground and said "You're not my type." Which the fact that he looked at the ground and told me upset me a lot more. So, he then finally looked me in the eyes and told me again. I then had study hall, and I listened to this song. I started to cry because I understood what Adele was feeling and I felt the same thing. So, to listen to someone sing about the way I felt kind of made me feel horrible because I didn't understand why he would ask me out then in 2 weeks tell me I wasn't his type. It confused me that he would say I wasn't his type but, he asked me out. So, that's the big meaning that this song has in my life.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 3
    Unregistered
    It is such an amazing song. I see that it is about trying to heel a scar, after a long time of feeling guilty about the way she left her ex. And for the way she treated him when they were together. Clearly she didn't forget and he didn't forgive. As always, deep meanings, deep song of Adele. My god! I admire sad songs even though I feel happy!
    Add your reply
  • l
    + 3
    Lucky5594
    Adele is talking about a guy she used to date and then they broke up now she's wondering how he's doing since they grew or went apart. I don't know if it was her fault that the relationship ended or vise versa but she wants to show interest in what he's doing in the timing of them not together and them seeing each other again.
    Add your reply
  • e
    + 3
    Ellen J Zluticky
    Being old as I am it is of course fun to look back and believe that it was a lovelier day and time (surely it was). Holding someone in your heart is a hard thing. Better to believe in love then to go back. Having had loved and been back. It hurts but what a rush! Love this song! Love that feeling!
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 3
    Unregistered
    Tungkol to sa babaeng di nagbabayad ng telephone bill kaya naputulan sya, nag-break tuloy sila ng jowa nya kasi ang akala ng boypren ayaw na sya makausap, eh ang tanga kaya pala di nagbabayad si girl pinangtutustos sa pag-aaral ni boy, after 1 week nakahanap ng bagong phone pal, rumak sila very good tas sumulat sya sa mmk na-touch ang sambayanang pilipino sa kwento nya, kaya bumentaw tong pldt dahil lahat ng babae na maharot nagpakabit ng telephone sa bahay akala naman may forever mga tanga.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 3
    Unregistered
    When it's over it's over. No amount of apologies or talking can change what happened. Adel is a great singer and I love her songs about reality not just something she thought up. There is no such thing as closure work on yourself and let go and observe you ex is not going to change that much but you will a lot.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 3
    Unregistered
    Whether a friend, relative, husband or wife. The song reaches to those that have ignored, forgotten or worse abused another. People tend to grow apart. Hello. Sometimes the person on the other side grows up quickly, notices finally their worth and ultimately decides to completely let go, forget. Why the song is so sad. No matter how much a person tries he/she will never get that, "hello" back.
    Add your reply
  • j
    + 3
    Julia Hackney
    Actually all of the above answers are correct except the strange one about Halloween. She discusses that its about herself in England and her friends family and ex left behind. Click the link above to read the interview as she explains about it herself. Here's a quote "It’s about friends, ex-boyfriends, it’s about myself, it’s about my family. It’s also about my fans as well. I feel like everyone thinks I’m so far away and I’m not. Everyone thinks I live in f**king America, I don’t."
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 2
    Unregistered
    It's written to God, the real God..not her God, which is the devil....She's trying to reach out to him to make her amends before her time is through. But she gets no response from him, is unable to hear him, bc she's on the outside, on the devil's side.....cut off from Gods voice
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 2
    Unregistered
    hope some day you will see what you actually missing
    but some where you are and what you actually want and need them in your life
    see I had this once and lost it after 5 years, but the person I am actually writing about
    is just a friend and she never knew the actual meaning of being loved, or just be there when you want them that bad
    this song is about finding yourself and finding out the inner YOU but you know what not naming names but it is a she
    who just had everything and just tried too much to let me go too bad too sad.?
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 2
    Unregistered
    Is about having a close friendship and who can say something to see them on other side that made it really hard to be on the other side, otherwise some days it maybe too hard to express what you actually feel about them in person not sending anything that relates how you feel but somewhere deep is saying I like you so bad to be a person who really likes you so much and to be on the other side just tears you apart anymore. Hello to a friend is something special until you realized it is gone until some day soon it will be amazing again.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 2
    Unregistered
    Hello is about trying to reach out and find someone who really loved you from the inside out and just try to find their heart.
    At least I can say this has been happening in my life, Hello how are you? Hope somewhere inside is meant to be together on making it worthwhile but at least in my life where is this heading torture or plain boring, it is good being in love or just try and find it somewhere you are meant to be loved and in return.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 2
    Unregistered
    I just thought this song would relate to someone who didn't know what the meaning hello meant on the other I found out someone I used to work with was harassing me using me lied, but kept referring to this song because sometimes I felt everything I did was not even based on me being there working with her but really the word was focus and believe.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 2
    Unregistered
    The flip phone and the phone booth are the keys to this song. She is also in Canada not California. The length of the song is also a clue. When she is talking on the retro phone she is trying to contact the man from the phone booth (reference to the Tardis time machine) She knows he existed in the past. With her alongside. Does he still exist? She was conflicted as to his existence now. She is very emotional when on the retro phone. Not so on the flip phone. The man from her past is much more important than any relationship she has now. She already has Hello 2 written, she was waiting to see if he in fact exists in this time period. She is not afraid any longer.
    Add your reply
  • m
    + 2
    Mariosetta
    You should sing this song I surrender I surrender by hillsong and worship God the Lord Jesus Christ and give to your entire self and you will experience a healing in your soul and spirit trust me it happened to me and I am witness to this experience. Thank you Jesus, Praise you Jesus, I love you Jesus.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 2
    Unregistered
    So amazing, I love this song, I love adelle, thank you thank you I always listening to your songs every night before I sleep that was the time I was crying when I was broken hearted. Now I feel good, I already move on with my ex haha and your song so very memorable for me every words has meaning. Thank you.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 2
    Unregistered
    I think this song is about a bad date or something and how everything went bad, also that all she talked about on the date was herself and she should have asked him about himself and all that (it might not be long but it tells you what I think).
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 2
    Unregistered
    Although Adele claims is about herself or about her dad or whatever the lyrics do not match. The story is clear: she broke up with a "nice guy" when she was young and switched guys like socks for a while. When she hit 30 she found out that almost no one is interested anymore so she calls the ex to validate herself. This is highly manipulative and is the despicable reason why women like to keep in touch with exes. And about running out of time yes you are Adele, but most men and especially that guy is not.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 2
    Unregistered
    Really this song reminds me a lot about the past relationship and all that. What you enjoyed while in the relationship and the outcome of the heartbreak afterwards. Thanks to her for bringing out such a beautiful song to people like us. I would listen to Adelle's "Hello" song 1000 times if given a chance.
    Add your reply
  • p
    + 2
    Perfect_Hedly
    This song makes you miss people you haven't even meet. This song gets to me and I love it so much. My best friend Alessia showed me this song and I have fallin' in love with this song. Thank you to Adele for everything she has done for her fans. She really shows people how to be the best they can be. Just to let all of you people know this song isn't about a ex-boyfriend its about her self. Look it up. This is what you look up - what is the meaning of Adele's new song "Hello". Then the first one should be Adele's "Hello" isn't about an ex boyfriend - it's about herself.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 2
    Unregistered
    This is a story of a person who is always too-little and too-late in the excuses for breaking another person's heart. I personally think whoever can relate to this song from the perspective of the singer deserves whatever perceived misery they have to live with. It's a consequence of actions. I feel no pity for the singer, as someone whose heart has been broken. And who cared too much at the time. However once a heart is broken and re-healed there is no way on earth that person should allow the heart-breaker even a breath of explanation. Ever. Once it's over, it's over. Once a heart-breaker always a heart-breaker. Never allow this kind of person back into your heart. You've moved on, you've got it so much better now.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 2
    Unregistered
    Actually all of the above answers are correct except the strange one about Halloween. She discusses that its about herself in England and her friends family and ex left behind. Click the link above to read the interview as she explains about it herself. Here's a quote "It’s about friends, ex-boyfriends, it’s about myself, it’s about my family. It’s also about my fans as well. I feel like everyone thinks I’m so far away and I’m not. Everyone thinks I live in f**king America, I don’t."
    Add your reply
  • e
    + 2
    eirayza5
    I think it's a song about a girl who had the courage to break from a relationship she thought was going nowhere. She was telling how selfish she was and that it also broke her heart at that time. Now that she's okay and she thinks he's okay too, it's time to find closure.
    1 reply
  • U
    + 1
    Unregistered
    This is another version of never mind, Ill find someone like you. I come back to see you after a long time hoping you will love me like I still love you. I screwed up and hurt you and you don't want to allow me back in to your life. I know you don't have to but I still want you to.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 1
    Unregistered
    Even she wouldn't admit it about telling a person how sorry you are and I bet longing for the old ways but she had to move. She might want it back buh she isn't sure anymore buh just sorry for breaking the person heart and she has to move on.
    Add your reply
  • d
    - 1
    Deonna Baughman-Caputo
    I though it was her talking to her "old"self, but then I watched the video and it seems to just be.
    About an old boyfriend... So I am just a bit confused. Nonetheless, the words still express a plea for forgiveness.
    And to let whomever the recipient know that they are missed a bit.
    1 reply
  • U
    - 21
    Unregistered
    Neden millet hayat hikayesini yazıyor yea.
    This is a story of a person who is always too-little and too-late in the excuses for breaking another person's heart. I personally think whoever can relate to this song from the perspective of the singer deserves whatever perceived misery they have to live with. It's a consequence of actions. I feel no pity for the singer, as someone whose heart has been broken. And who cared too much at the time. However once a heart is broken and re-healed there is no way on earth that person should allow the heart-breaker even a breath of explanation. Ever. Once it's over, it's over. Once a heart-breaker always a heart-breaker. Never allow this kind of person back into your heart. You've moved on, you've got it so much better now.
    Add your reply
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    Top meanings Post my meaning

    • b
      + 68
      Brogue
      I think this song is about growing up. I think she feels guilty about the way she treated someone... Read more →
    • d
      + 36
      Diane Dougherty Toth
      This song is called Hello. But at times I hear her sing “Hallo” This song makes me think of... Read more →

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