“When The Honeymoon Is Over” by Prem Byrne is a song of heartfelt reflection on a previous relationship becoming a true lesson in love and growth. Rather than the excitement of a new love, it examines the life after the initial heat and into the true heart of the matter.
The musical structure is the main feature of the song. It is set in 3/4 time, featuring a chorus set years ago in a minor key, but switching to a major key, and thus offering a path which follows the narrative. The artist preserved this special melody but with a more mature and mature perspective.
The lyrics are thought-provoking and grown up. The songwriter isn’t faulting anybody; instead, he’s reflecting on himself, acknowledging his own role in the breakup, and his tendency to seek perfection rather than strive to create something substantial. The way that the words are set up in the pre-chorus is cleverly done and other songwriters will certainly appreciate this.
There’s a sense of emotional honesty and thoughtful consideration of relationships in the song, which reflects Sting and Peter Gabriel’s influence. Ultimately, When The Honeymoon Is Over” is a heartfelt reminder that true love requires patience, trust, and the willingness to embark on shared journeys through challenging times.
Listen to When The Honeymoon Is Over
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Congratulations on the release of “When The Honeymoon Is Over.” What inspired you to revisit a relationship from over a decade ago and transform it into the song we hear today?
I had forgotten about the old song and then it came into my mind and I felt it would be a waste to not use the melody and music of the chorus because it’s a unique little piece, in 3/4 time, that starts in a minor key and ends in the major of the same key. So I tried to feel into what the vibe of the music was saying, and it led me back to the relationship itself. But now, instead of a song about passionate infatuation, I wrote entirely new lyrics that were more about what was at the root of the breakup.
You’ve described the track as an exploration of what happens after the initial excitement of a relationship fades. Why did you feel it was important to tell that side of the story?
For myself, and some other people in my life, I see a lot of chasing after passion, and not a lot of willingness to be steady and weather the tough times, and work on getting to a deeper place of trust and commitment. It feels like a waste, and a lost opportunity for more growth and maturity.
The song evolved from a passionate love song into a reflection on personal growth and missed opportunities. What was the rewriting process like emotionally and creatively?
I had a lot of fun with the word play in the pre-choruses, using opposites. For instance, in the first pre-chorus I write, “well, I guess it’s all RIGHT
Cuz there wasn’t much LEFT”
And I continued trying to find these clever little opposites that I don’t know if listeners will really appreciate, but I know other songwriters will, and I found it fun.
Emotionally it was therapeutic to write this song because it involved a reflection on what had happened, and while there still were a lot of hurt feelings on my end because I was the one who was left, I was able to write about the truth of it all, because she didn’t reject me out of nowhere. I was semi-consciously rejecting her, and rejecting the relationship, driving her away, and neither of us had the tools to navigate the turbulence.
I was able to put into writing my pattern of chasing after the new, shiny hope of perfection, a pattern which really was the only aspect of relationships that was modeled in my childhood. So writing the song solidified my understanding of my dilemma.
Your songwriting often features deep and meaningful lyrics. When writing a song like this, do you begin with the story you want to tell or the musical idea that captures the emotion?
Usually I stumble on to a catchy melody and then I try to figure out what the melody is saying. It’s a mysterious process that can take a long time.
Also, sometimes just the rhythm of a phrase is my way into a song, I don’t even know what I’m saying, but I like the rhythm of the way the syllables come out and then I try to figure out a phrase that fits into that rhythm and that will often give me a way into the theme. In this case I kept finding myself going towards writing a love song, a song of longing and wanting, but everything I wrote just didn’t feel true and deep so I had to keep at it and figure out what this song wanted to say.
Influences such as Sting, Tracy Chapman, Cat Stevens, Coldplay, and Peter Gabriel have all shaped your musical journey. Which of those influences do you think listeners will hear most strongly in this new release?
Very interesting question. Both Peter Gabriel and Sting come to mind, because they seem to write from this place of reflection and honesty about relationships. I’m thinking about Sting’s “Fortress Around Your Heart” as I ponder this question.
And Gabriel’s “Love To Be Loved” comes to mind as well– my song definitely is related to that theme. They are both male artists who are willing to look at the difficulties and chaos of relationships in a deep and mature way. Your question makes me realize that they have affected me a lot.
Looking back on the relationship that inspired the song, did writing and recording it give you any new insights about yourself or the challenges of long-term relationships?
It just further solidified what I already know about myself– that I really have a lot to learn in this department. And I know I’m not alone in this.
As listeners connect with this deeply personal track, what do you hope they take away from it, and what can fans look forward to from you in the coming months?
I hope the message of the song finds its way to the people who most need to hear it. Myself, if I could do it over again, I would try a lot harder than I did to make that relationship work because there was so much that was good about it.
I have friends who have stayed together for decades, through some pretty rough times, and come out the other end and their lives are better for it. I think a lot of us could benefit from sticking with it and doing whatever it takes to get to deeper levels — be it couples therapy, tantra retreats, or just going out and looking at the stars together more.
As far as what fans can look forward to, I’m really excited about the songs I’ve been working on. I recently heard Chris Rock talk about stand-up, and how there’s a time in your life where stuff is just coming through you, and that it’s not always going to be like that. I’m really grateful for what’s coming through me these days.
I don’t know what the future holds for me, I don’t know how much longer I will write or if what I’ll be writing in the future will feel as good to me as everything that’s coming through these days. I’m just grateful that it’s happening right now!
