Tame Impala My Old Ways Meaning and Review

Burner Records
Oct 17
7 min read

A Distorted Beginning

Opening Deadbeat with a jolt of distortion and melancholy, “My Old Ways” feels like both a confession and a relapse disguised as a groove. The track begins with a sharp, overdriven piano line that cuts through the mix, an abrasive yet oddly hypnotic tone that immediately establishes the album’s rawer, more unfiltered sound. Kevin Parker, as always, produces with a careful balance between chaos and clarity, allowing the distorted edges to serve as emotional texture rather than noise. From the very first seconds, it’s clear that Tame Impala is venturing into darker, more self-aware territory than before.

Finding the Groove

Once the initial haze clears, the song slides into a tight and infectious rhythm, blending a danceable drum pattern with Tame Impala’s signature psychedelic pulse. Parker’s production flourishes, including lush synth swells, phased guitars, and reverb-drenched basslines, create a sonic environment that feels both euphoric and regretful. It’s that contrast that gives the track its power: a groove that makes you move while the lyrics quietly admit defeat. The combination of upbeat instrumentation and somber introspection showcases Parker’s knack for turning self-doubt into something beautiful and kinetic, a hallmark of his best work.

The Cycle of Relapse

Lyrically, “My Old Ways” is a brutally honest reflection on relapse, both emotional and behavioral. Lines like “I tell myself I’m only human” and “Temptation, feels like it never ends” frame the narrator’s struggle as a cycle of self-awareness and surrender. There’s no attempt to glorify the fall; instead, Parker captures the quiet shame of repeating mistakes you swore off long ago. The chorus, “Back into my old ways again,” is delivered with an almost resigned melody, looping endlessly like the habit it describes. The simplicity of the refrain becomes its strength, echoing the inevitability of slipping back into the familiar.

Chaos and Confession

The bridge explodes into chaotic repetition, with Parker layering his vocals in overlapping waves of guilt and acceptance. The refrain “Always fucking up with something” becomes a mantra of frustration, almost punk in its raw delivery. Beneath the shimmering synths and warped effects, there’s a human pulse of self-sabotage and exhaustion. By the time the instrumental break hits, the song feels like a dizzying freefall, a musical embodiment of losing control while knowing exactly what’s happening. It’s one of Tame Impala’s most emotionally transparent moments to date.

A Statement Opening

As the opener to Deadbeat, “My Old Ways” sets the tone for an album steeped in self-reflection and decay, yet still driven by rhythm and texture. Kevin Parker turns vulnerability into something danceable, finding catharsis in sound even when the subject matter sinks deep into guilt. The song’s brilliance lies in its balance: the production dazzles, the writing wounds, and the performance feels painfully human. It’s Tame Impala at their most conflicted and compelling, an irresistible return to the same mistakes, sonically and spiritually.

Listen To Tame Impala My Old Ways

Tame Impala My Old Ways Lyrics Meaning Explained

The meaning of My Old Ways by Tame Impala is a vivid exploration of relapse, self-awareness, and the struggle to break free from destructive patterns. The song captures the tension between knowing better and succumbing to familiar habits, portraying the cyclical nature of human weakness. Kevin Parker uses both lyrics and production to convey this emotional conflict, blending hypnotic grooves with confessional storytelling. Through repeated phrases and escalating intensity, the track illustrates the push and pull between temptation, guilt, and resignation, offering a raw and honest reflection on the difficulty of personal change.

Verse 1: Confession and Resignation

“My Old Ways” opens with the verse, “So, here I am once again, feeling all blue,” setting the tone for a confession steeped in melancholy and recognition. The phrase “once again” implies repetition, acknowledging that the narrator has found himself in this emotional space before. When he admits, “I must be out of excuses, knew I would,” it becomes clear that he is not surprised by his relapse. Yet, in “Feels like it came out of nowhere this time,” there is a contradiction, reflecting the way denial and self-awareness can coexist. The verse concludes with “Wish I had someone else to blame,” a painfully honest acknowledgment of accountability and the longing to deflect it.

Pre-Chorus: Rationalization and Vulnerability

In the pre-chorus, the narrator begins to rationalize his behavior, repeating, “I tell myself I'm only human.” It is both a comforting thought and a justification. The next line, “I know I, I said never again,” captures the hesitation and shame of breaking one’s own promises. He admits that “Temptation, feels like it never ends,” revealing the unrelenting nature of his struggles, before surrendering completely with, “I'm sliding, powerless as I descend.” The imagery of sliding emphasizes gradual decline rather than a sudden collapse. This leads into the chorus, “Back into my old ways again,” a simple yet devastating refrain that encapsulates the hopeless repetition of bad habits. The echoing “ways again” functions like a haunting echo in his mind.

Verse 2: Justification and Guilt

The second verse provides insight into how self-deception fuels this cycle. “Thought I would never go back, but just this once” captures the rationalization that defines relapse. The following line, “A little present for holding out so long,” shows how indulgence becomes twisted into a reward for restraint. The admission “I could not bear the thought of it two days ago” highlights how quickly his resolve fades, while “Don't think I would forgive myself” exposes the guilt that always follows. In the repeated pre-chorus, he again tells himself, “I'm only human,” and confesses that “Temptation, feels like it never ends.” The variation “I'm sliding, only notice it now and then” suggests growing numbness.

Bridge: Chaos and Self-Sabotage

The bridge is where emotion and chaos collide. Parker sings, “I know what’s coming, it’s so shocking,” a statement of grim anticipation. He is aware of the fallout before it happens, trapped in a loop of knowing and doing nothing to stop it. The raw line “Always fucking up with something” strips away all pretense. The phrase “Ego's strumming, show be stopping” implies that his pride keeps him performing, even as he knows he is breaking down internally, while “Here goes nothing” marks the moment of surrender. Later, he confesses, “Slowly swapping down to stopping, barely coping,” painting a picture of mental and emotional burnout. The relentless repetition throughout the bridge mirrors the suffocating rhythm of relapse itself.

Final Pre-Chorus and Chorus: Acceptance and Resignation

After the instrumental break, the final pre-chorus and chorus return with renewed resignation. “I tell myself I'm only human” and “I know I, I said never again” are no longer hopeful mantras but statements of defeat. When he repeats, “Temptation, feels like it never ends,” it feels less like a complaint and more like acceptance. The closing line, “I'm sliding, powerless as I descend,” marks the completion of the cycle, as he sinks fully into the behavior he tried to escape. The final repetitions of “Back into my old ways again” drive home the permanence of the loop, transforming from confession to inevitability.

My Old Ways Meaning

“My Old Ways” captures the painful awareness of falling back into destructive habits, even when fully conscious of the consequences. It is not a song about ignorance, but about the agony of insight, of watching oneself repeat the same mistakes in slow motion. The circular structure of the lyrics mirrors the pattern of relapse itself, where each promise to change folds back into temptation and guilt. Tame Impala transforms that emotional descent into something hypnotic, turning self-loathing and resignation into a rhythmic meditation on human weakness.

Tame Impala My Old Ways Lyrics

[Verse 1]

So, here I am once again, feeling all blue

I must be out of excuses, knew I would

Feels like it came out of nowhere this time

Wish I had someone else to blame

[Pre-Chorus]

I tell myself I'm only human

I know I, I said never again

Temptation, feels like it never ends

I'm sliding, powerless as I descend

[Chorus]

Back into my old ways again (Ways again)

Back into my old ways again

Back into my old ways again (Ways again)

[Verse 2]

Thought I would never go back, but just this once

A little present for holding out so long

I could not bear the thought of it two days ago

Don't think I would forgive myself