Tomorrow Me by Luke Combs

An analysis of a song combatting those feelings of the past that might not be best for the present.

By: Jenna Manderioli

image via. VEVO.

Welcome Back!

I took a little time off writing to focus on finals and getting home and acclimated to my internship and job, but as part of my self-improvement journey this summer, My goal is to roll out one of these bad boy music blogs weekly–either Mondays or Fridays–for now, HAPPY MONDAY!

I knew as soon as this song was announced I was SO PUMPED to write about it. This is a topic I feel for so so much, and I am in a generation where so many people have struggled with the emotions of love and trying to understand what is right for you and when. And hey, it's okay not to know sometimes!! Combs definitely reflects this indecisiveness and room for making mistakes and learning from them in this song about complicated relationships.

"Tomorrow Me" – Yesterday's Mistakes?

When “Tomorrow Me” by Luke Combs was released on April 22, 2022, I knew as soon as I saw the title what it would be about. Regretting actions from the night before, and having the hindsight, or “Tomorrow Me,” deal with the damage. It’s a relatable concept that I have certainly found myself in, and I think anyone ages 18-30s and single can absolutely understand the constant battle between wanting to do something but knowing it might not be the best idea. In a culture of late-night outings and drinking, decisions and relationships can get messy.

Combs captures this phenomenon perfectly in this simple, straightforward yet beautifully structured song. It immediately had me nodding my head along, thinking YUP. I GET IT. and that’s definitely his goal with this single, and was a good move as the first single he’s released for 2022, introducing his upcoming album Growin’ Up, set to be released June 24, 2022. There couldn’t be a more perfect song to add to the track list for an album called Growin’ Up. Luke, you never miss.

Combs first teased the song in 2020 and asked fans their thoughts. He met up with 80s country artist Dean Dillon and country songwriter Ray Fulcher in the Bahamas where they wrote the song, according to an interview from StageRightSecrets with Combs. Combs says Dillon was an inspiration to work with, and the song was inspired by problems that Fulcher was navigating at the time. Combs is in a healthy, married relationship with Nicole Hocking, who he married in 2020, so it’s definitely a relief it’s not about him!! But nonetheless, it is a relatable topic, and Combs describes the song to be about “that girl or that person you can’t get away from.” But for clarity, I still write this review from the perspective of the singer (Combs).

Comb's Album Cover for Growin' Up, via @lukecombs on Instagram.

Direct Lyrics, Direct Feelings

The song begins with a simple melody with a descending scale that allows the listeners to settle into what may be a somber storyline. The opening lyrics:

“Telephone rings, can I come over? It’s kind of just the way things go since we’ve been over”

This sets the image instantly for anyone who has been there. It is, unfortunately, such a relatable issue in today’s generation of love and hookup culture. People are prone to repeatedly go back to an ex or someone they are comfortable with. It can become a regular occurrence until one person in the relationship realizes “hey, this might be really messed up for my emotions right now” and tries to take a step back. This song is literally Combs trying to do that, but he’s definitely battling the idea a bit. He says he knows what [she] wants, “showing he’s been down this road before with this person, and even admits he [in the moment] wants it too, but he’s aware of the aftermath going there could bring.

He absolutely strikes gold with the chorus and the play on “yesterday, tonight, and tomorrow” taking the listeners through all of the phases of a night and preparation for either making a bad decision or ultimately choosing to avoid one.

“Tomorrow me ain’t gonna like the way things go tonight, If I let you in and think that it’ll be different this time, So maybe we should let yesterday be, Cause I gotta live with tomorrow me”

It’s literally him rationalizing–I’m going to kick myself tomorrow if I let this happen tonight, and let you in again, always hoping and longing for a better outcome of getting back together, but knowing deep down how things will actually. So I’m gonna leave it in “yesterday” because my actions are gonna follow me into tomorrow even though they felt light at the moment.

For someone who gets this, it’s just a beautiful depiction of a complicated aspect of life.

The next part really gets into the specifics of why this situation can be so painful for many relationships.

“In the morning light, I’ll be the guy staring down I told you so for the hundredth time. You’ll be okay, you always are, I’ll be picking up the pieces if we go that far”

In this scenario, Combs is the one with lingering feelings still. He knows going back to this significant other will break him again, but he knows they’ll be fine, implying that it’s happened in the past and this person may be more emotionally able to handle that intimacy without the attachment of old flames or feelings. It explains that the two of them are on different wavelengths with being able to handle going down the road of seeing each other in this “romantic” way again.

It is so important that two partners are on the same page with their emotions. If one person is in it and the other isn’t, it leads to so much pain and heartbreak that Combs in this song is really grappling with.

In the bridge, Combs fully admits the truth of the matter.

““I know how it’s gonna end, just like it always ends”

But there’s something tempting him to go back. That’s what the song is. But it's the turning point in the temptation to go back because the subconscious thought about what will happen in the morning when all the thoughts hit the weight of his actions is finally overpowering the rush he might get from one drunk night of seeing his ex again.

The repetition of the same tune and melody throughout the song, not a huge increase or decrease in key, represents the consistency of the occurrence of going back to that comfort spot on those long lonely nights and repeatedly regretting it in the morning. The notes that decline in pitch to enter the song help the listener enter the state of the situation. The only major change in tune occurs at the bridge when he concludes the reality of what would happen if he decided to go see his ex.

The *Potential* Alcohol Influence

While it is not explicitly stated in Combs’ song that this particular scenario involved being under the influence, it is safe to say these scenarios can occur under the influence of alcohol. This song can easily be about hangover-induced anxiety, or as some may know it, “hangxiety”. The reality of going out for a night of drinking and making impulsive decisions while under the influence, not feeling the full weight of emotions just yet, until the morning when the hangover and thoughts come rushing to one’s head.

According to a study conducted by Neurology Review Published in the library of medicine, it was determined that the areas of the brain most vulnerable to alcohol consumption are the neocortex (particularly the frontal lobes), the limbic system, and the cerebellum. The frontal lobes and limbic system are responsible for cognitive functions, emotions, and memories.

The interactions of the frontal lobe with limbic and paralimbic centers are essential to balanced behavior for normal emotional functioning. When that is interfered with, it is associated with behaviors that involve impulsivity and a lack of concern for consequences.

It’s just a reality of hook-up culture, too–it all feels so much more casual in the moment at night when people are out late at night. Emotions are more at stake, people can be more impulsive. Alcohol or not, “Tomorrow Me” paints the picture of someone regretting their actions the night before dealing with a sticky heartbreak, navigating the twisted road of knowing you were once so comfortable with someone but also realizing that people change, and maybe things won’t be the way they used to.

Listen to "Tomorrow Me" Here!