Lyrics explained

I dedicate this song to Elon Musk—a man whose dreams extend beyond the stars, pushing the boundaries of what he believes is possible. In my eyes, he is the most audacious dreamer ever to walk the earth. This song is my tribute to his relentless pursuit of the extraordinary, a reminder that even the wildest dreams can come true with courage and vision.

But this doesn’t make the dreams of ordinary people like you and me any less important. Our dreams, no matter their size, have the power to shape our lives in profound ways. As you turn the pages of my memoir and step into my story, remember to dare to dream—boldly, fearlessly, and without any limits.

The love for fashion and colour my mother instilled in me became more than a shared pastime—it was a thread that wove us closer together. Beautiful clothes are more than just fabric and colour; they express who you are, a mirror of your soul. Dressing with intention brings me joy, a quiet happiness that lifts my spirit every day.

As I moved into adulthood, this passion continued to shape not only the way I dressed but also the spaces I inhabited, painting my life in vibrant hues.

As I look back on these painful years of my parents’ divorce, I can still feel the weight of the hurt, but also the strength it took to forgive, to heal, and to hold onto love despite it all. I want to share my experience through this song.

When I wrote the lyrics to capture the emotions of my 2003 divorce, I reflected on those moments of pain, growth, and healing while also acknowledging the goodness in my ex-husband despite our falling out of love. It was a way to honor the complexity of our journey and the lessons learned all along the way, finding peace in both the love and the loss.

At the beginning of this new chapter in my life, as I ventured into the world of dating in my mid-40s, I slowly realized how the strict criteria we set for meeting someone—whether about age, qualifications, or ticking all the right boxes—can sometimes prevent us from experiencing the delightful unpredictability of human connection.

I was new to this dating game, but I was learning fast—very fast.

Each day, as I walked down my hallway after my divorce in 2003, I was silently greeted by the two-faced woman in my painting. Suddenly, the painting took on a different meaning for me. I saw her as a woman with two lives. Subconsciously, I aspired to embody her, striving to balance the two sides of my life: one with my boys and the other with the new man in my life, my lover. Although I didn’t fully understand how to achieve this, I was determined to create a new relationship model with my new partner.

Our Living Apart Together home is not just a structure but a living symbol of a love that thrives in both togetherness and individuality. It plays a harmonious symphony of upstairs and downstairs, embodying the love song I wrote for my lover. Each verse and chorus of our existence reflects the unique arrangement we’ve nurtured over two decades, honoring both our shared life and personal spaces. My heart and soul are in the lyrics, a tribute to my lover.

Swans, known for their lifelong bonds, symbolize enduring love—just like ours. Though we live apart but together, our lives deeply intertwined, like the two swan cups in cobalt blue and lime green that share a single saucer, a perfect reflection of our relationship: two hearts, two homes, yet always connected. Our morning coffee ritual on the days we are together, is more than just a shared moment; every sip celebrates the unique rhythm of our life together apart.

Food holds a special place in our Living Apart Together relationship. Fortunately, I have a lover who delights in experimenting and having fun in the kitchen. Food is not merely sustenance; it is a passionate love affair. We live to eat, not eat to live, much like savoring sex for its sheer joy rather than mere procreation. Our food rituals became a cornerstone of our relationship, with both of us cooking for each other and frequently cooking together. It wasn’t just the variety of ingredients or his elaborate kitchen tools that made this experience so special; it was our shared passion for food and the love that simmered between us for 20 years. How lucky am I to have a lover who understands that love is tasted, savoured, and shared with every meal we have together.

We got married on the beach after Living Apart Together for 18 years. I rushed toward him, so eager to get married that I nearly broke the old tradition of not kissing him right then and there. From an Excel spreadsheet proposal to standing here, the journey felt surreal. We said our vows, married at last – the beginning of an even better life, together but still Living Apart.

I dared to love in a way that defied convention, Living Apart Together while daring to dream and live fully, not waiting for happiness to arrive but creating it along the way. Aristotle taught, “Happiness depends upon ourselves,” and I have found mine in every step, in every risk, and in every embrace of life.

I am content, I am complete in every way.