“we made a fire
went down in the flames
we sailed an ocean
and drowned in the waves”

Long Way Down has left One Direction fans completely speechless – and with good reason – the song is absolutely heartbreaking but not in the way you initially assume.

Louis co-wrote the tune that showcases lyrics like

“Point of no return and now it’s just too late to turn around
I try to forgive you but I struggle cause I don’t know how”

and

“We built it up so high and now I’m fallen
It’s a long way down – It’s a long way down from here”

We can’t stop ourselves from thinking that this song is more than just some goodbye to a romantic love, this song is too deep – it means too much. Long Way Down is too emotionally charged, the lyrics too specific, too telling.  Louis isn’t writing from experiences with Eleanor because he didn’t travel the world and build a legacy with her – there were 4 other people that he did do this with, though; and one of them isn’t on the journey any longer.

Long Way Down is a goodbye song, but not a goodbye to a lover.
Long Way Down seems to be written as a goodbye to Zayn.

It’s only fitting to expect at least one of the tracks off of Made In The A.M to reflect on Zayn in some way.  This is Harry, Louis, Liam, and Niall’s last album before their hiatus – a reflection of the last five years of their lives – and Zayn was a big part of that experience.  In five years five boys grew up, experienced harsh parts of life that made them grow together, and in a big way – in five years one of the five boys grew apart.

It’s an experience most One Direction fans just don’t think about, March 25th is a date most One Direction fans don’t like talking about, and if it’s that hard on fans – it’s ten times that difficult on the lads themselves.  Zayn is a topic that is usually left out of interviews now, one that stirs up too much emotion in the boys.  There are sad looks, pursed lips, and Liam usually speaking about how it’s okay and no one blames Zayn for going – the truth is – they likely don’t blame him, they couldn’t.

Zayn leaving touched each one of the boys in a different way.  Zayn’s departure caused an emotional event in each of their lives to a different degree.  Zayn being gone affects each of them at a different level now – almost like he left a unique handprint on the skin of Louis, Liam, Harry, and Niall.

Zayn’s handprint on Liam is the one he bandaged before moving on like it never happened.  He felt the initial cut but only in private and runs his fingers over the scar to remind himself it was real but according to everyone else – there’s no scar at all.

Zayn’s handprint on Louis burnt the deepest and left the most obvious scar.  The kind of scar you see on someone and know you shouldn’t stare at but you’re unable to look away.  He’s ashamed of his scar – he doesn’t want it brought to attention – when it happens he brushes it off like it was no big deal, but he still feels the pain just as badly as he did the first day.

Zayn’s handprint on Harry is a slow burn.  He’s been the one with the least to say on the matter to this point and Harry usually wears his emotions on his sleeve.  Harry seems to be the one who felt Zayn’s leaving in a very personal way, almost as if he feels betrayed but not just for himself, it’s like he’s carrying the weight for someone else too.

Zayn’s handprint on Niall is a forgetful ache.  He remembers it happening, he remembers the way it felt afterwards, but there is no pain as a constant reminder of the thing that hurt.  Niall has reached a place where it seems like he understands why Zayn had to go and although it may hurt sometimes – he’s made his peace with everything.

In an album that seems to be a very personal, intimate look into the lives of Liam, Niall, Harry, and Louis; this song is one that we’ll always tear up over, will have a hard time turning off, and will always find ourselves reminiscing with of the good, the bad, the highs and the lows.

We think the boys will do the same.

We had a mountain
But took it for granted
We had a spaceship
But we couldn’t land it
We found an island
But we got stranded
We had it all
Who could’ve planned it?

ncG1vNJzZmiblaGyo7nIsWWcp51kvK%2BxjJ2gq52TqbawuoysmLKrXZZ6r7HCnqqsmaKueqi7zp2Zsp1drLa1tIylpqefXayuunnDqK6nZw%3D%3D