Discover the story of the song > Last Year – Alt J

The lyrics talk about the different months of the year and how they made the protagonist feel. In January, his heart was taken away, and in February, he felt the same. In March, he held on to his hugs, and in April, he felt like boiling porridge. In May, he smelled his partner's shampoo, and in June, he learned how to count to ten in Japanese. In July, he felt like his skin was being wiped off. Instead of feeling better, he went to visit his family, who told him he was special. In August, he took medication to feel stable, and in October, he returned for his birthday. In December, his partner sang at his funeral.

In the second verse, Marika Hackman sings about the protagonist's rivers and pockets. She has picked one river for him and collected stones for his pockets to hold him down.

In the refrain, they call out to Mississippi to come back from its cold black sleep.