Forever Blue

The speaker feels sorrow and regret because a choice in life has separated them from someone they love. At first, they imagine escaping the city and its misery, but they recognize that distance cannot erase the other person’s memory. The mood becomes more openly sad as they admit they cannot forget what they left unsaid. By the end, their sadness is joined by a wish that the loved one will find happiness without them.

The wish to be a sailor “way out on the stormy sea” suggests a desire to get away from painful circumstances, though the storm also hints that escape may not bring peace. Closing their eyes and drifting away suggests retreating into memory or imagination. “Forever blue” uses blue as an image of lasting sadness, rather than describing a literal color. The advice to find “another lover” shows the speaker accepting that they may not be able to remain in the other person’s life.

There is some uncertainty about the speaker’s feelings: they say they have chosen a life that took them away, but they do not explain what that life involves or whether the separation can be changed. Their farewell sounds caring, yet it may also reflect resignation. The song can be read as both a confession of regret and an attempt to let someone go kindly.