Lucy Dacus Finds Strength in Vulnerability on “Forever Is A Feeling”
photo via Instagram
Forever Is A Feeling is Lucy Dacus' most intimate work to date. This marks her first album release since 2021, and she's also the first member of Boygenius to release solo music following their indefinite hiatus announcement in February 2024. The album explores a wide range of emotions, from heartbreak and loss to the joy of falling in love and being in a queer relationship. It offers a more personal glimpse into Dacus’ world than anything she’s shared before.
The album opens with “Calliope Prelude”, a gentle instrumental that sets the tone for what's to come. This atmospheric track seamlessly transitions into “Big Deal”, where Dacus sings about being in love with someone she believes she can’t be with because they have a partner. It’s likely a reference to her current girlfriend and bandmate, Julien Baker. The lyric “You knew when you caught me reading at your show” is a direct nod to their first meeting in 2016 when they were both performing at the same show, and Baker walked into the dressing room where Dacus was reading The Portrait of a Lady. “Big Deal” captures a story of love and longing.
“Ankles”, Dacus' leading single, is a song of yearning, but with a more powerful and striking tone. It retains the poetic feel of the previous track, but here Dacus is full of desire and vulnerability: “So bite me on the shoulder / Pull my hair / And let me touch you where I want to / There, there, there, there, there.” At the same time, there’s tenderness in her words, as she sings, “How lucky are we to have so much to lose.”
In “Limerence”, Dacus shares the painful experience of falling out of love. The lyrics “I'm thinking about breaking your heart someday soon / And if I do, I'll be breaking mine too” and “Is there a difference between lying to you / If it feels just as bad as telling the truth?” show the emotional turmoil she faces in trying to end a relationship without causing further pain. The piano in the background perfectly mirrors the heartbreak in her voice and the vulnerability in her lyrics.
“Modigliani” echoes similar themes of loss but from a different angle. Dacus sings about missing a friend, likely bandmate Phoebe Bridgers, who provides backing vocals. The song was probably written during Bridgers' 2023 international tour, as Dacus sings about the difficulties of being in opposite time zones. Yet, despite the distance, Dacus takes pride in Bridgers' success: “I like watching you win over a new crowd / You can make 'em go wild, you can leave 'em spellbound / But you will never be / Famous to me / You will never be / Famous to me.” These lyrics demonstrate the closeness and unique bond between the two.
“Talk” was the biggest surprise of the album. It introduces a new tone, one of tension and frustration. Dacus questions why her relationship feels strained, singing, “Why can't we talk anymore? / We used to talk for hours / Do I make you nervous or bored? / Or did I drink you to the last drop?” and “Why was our best sex in hotels?” There’s a raw honesty here that contrasts with the more tender moments on the album.
“For Keeps” returns to a softer, more introspective take on love. Dacus sings, “If the Devil's in the details / And God is everything / Who's to say that they are not / One and the same?” She compares the uncertainty in her relationship to the conflict between good and evil, yet finds comfort in this ambiguity. The title track, “Forever Is A Feeling”, continues this theme, as Dacus contemplates the impermanence of things. She knows nothing lasts forever, but she wants to savor every moment with her partner.
“Come Out” explores the delicate dynamics of a queer relationship. It’s a tender plea to a partner who may not yet be ready to be open about their sexuality. With lines like “Come out, come out, there's no need to hide / I want you, I want you, I want you by my side,” Dacus expresses her longing for a more public relationship, while also showing patience and understanding: “I can't wait, I can wait / But I don't want to.”
“Best Guess”, the third released single, is another song about Julien Baker, and marks Dacus’ first time openly singing about being in a relationship with a woman. “After all, it's a small world / You may not be an angel / But you are my girl” reflects her uncertainty about the relationship’s longevity, but she’s willing to take the risk, embracing the love she has.
Track 11, “Bullseye”, features Hozier and is one of the album’s most beautiful moments. Together, their voices create a delicate yet powerful atmosphere as they reflect on a past relationship. The lyrics “The world that we built meant the world to me / When one world ends, the other worlds keep spinning” capture both the pain and beauty of lost love. Hozier’s contribution adds depth and emotion to an already stunning song, making it one of the album's most vocally beautiful tracks.
“Most Wanted Man” brings a bit of a shift sonically, with a western-tinged vibe. Dacus sings about being thankful for her relationship, celebrating her love with lines like “To catch the most wanted man in West Tennessee.” With Baker providing backing vocals, this song subtly nods to her roots in Tennessee.
The album closes with “Lost Time”, a heartbreaking reflection on the time Dacus wishes she had with her partner. She longs to make up for the time lost before they were together and fears the time they’ll lose in the future. It echoes the sentiments expressed in the title track, “Forever Is A Feeling,” when Dacus sings, “Nothing lasts forever but let's see how far we get.” In many ways, the song ties the entire album together, encapsulating the themes of love, loss, and the fear of losing the ones we care about.
Forever Is A Feeling is a stunning collection of songs that capture the full spectrum of human emotion. Lucy Dacus has created her most intimate and profound album yet, telling beautiful stories of love and loss in a way that feels deeply personal and universally resonant.
