If you were anywhere near a festival stage or a moody indie playlist around 2019 or 2021, you’ve heard it. That driving bassline. The explosive, desperate energy of Elijah Hewson’s vocals. But more than the sound, it’s the it won't always be like this lyrics that turned Inhaler from "that band with Bono’s son" into a legitimate voice for a very specific, very restless generation.
It’s a weirdly prophetic song.
Originally written when the band members were teenagers—long before a global pandemic made the title feel like a literal survival mantra—the track has lived two lives. First, as a scrappy indie demo about adolescent growing pains. Later, as the title track of a chart-topping debut album that arrived exactly when the world needed a reminder that time actually moves forward. Honestly, looking back at the lyrics now, they feel less like a pop song and more like a collective sigh of relief.
The Story Behind the Anthem
Inhaler didn't just stumble onto these words. The band—comprising Elijah Hewson, Robert Keating, Josh Jenkinson, and Ryan McMahon—actually released an early version of the song back in 2019. It was raw. It was fast. It captured that frantic feeling of being nineteen and stuck in a small town, or a small room, or just a small headspace.
When they re-recorded it for their 2021 debut album, the context had shifted entirely.
The world was coming out of lockdowns. People were grieving lost time. Suddenly, singing "it won't always be like this" wasn't just about moving on from a breakup or a bad night in Dublin; it was about the fundamental human need for change. Hewson has mentioned in various interviews, including chats with NME and Rolling Stone, that the song started as a positive affirmation for the band themselves. They were trying to convince themselves that they’d make it. They’d get out. They’d play the big stages.
It’s a classic "fake it 'til you make it" anthem that actually made it.
Breaking Down the Meaning: A Search for Something More
The song kicks off with a sense of disorientation. "I'm high and I'm low / I'm out of control." It’s relatable because it’s messy. You’ve felt that, right? That swinging pendulum of being young and totally unsure if you’re doing the right thing.
What makes the it won't always be like this lyrics stand out is the lack of cynicism. A lot of modern indie rock leans into irony or detached coolness. Inhaler went the opposite direction. They went for earnestness.
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The Hook That Defined a Year
"It won't always be like this."
It’s repeated like a prayer. In the chorus, the repetition serves two purposes. One, it’s catchy as hell. Two, it mimics the way we talk to ourselves when we’re stressed. We repeat phrases to calm our nervous systems. By the time the bridge hits and the guitars swell, the lyrics transition from a quiet hope to a loud, aggressive demand for a better future.
Youthful Myopia
There’s a line about "seeing the world through a window pane."
Before 2020, that might have been a metaphor for feeling like an outsider or watching life pass you by while you're stuck at a job you hate. After 2020, it became incredibly literal. We were all looking through window panes. This is why the song exploded on streaming services. It became the unofficial soundtrack for the "return to normal," even though it was written years prior.
Why the Lyric Resonates with Different Generations
Usually, a band like Inhaler gets pigeonholed into the "teen fan" category. But I’ve seen 50-year-old Joy Division fans and 20-year-old pop enthusiasts both screaming these lyrics at the top of their lungs. Why?
Because the sentiment is universal.
If you’re middle-aged, the lyrics might remind you of the cyclical nature of life—the "this too shall pass" philosophy. If you’re a Gen Z listener, it’s a protest against the stagnation of the current economy or the climate. It’s a flexible piece of writing. It adapts to whatever "this" the listener is currently dealing with.
Musicality Meets Message
You can't talk about the lyrics without talking about how they're delivered. The production on the album version, handled by Antony Genn, gives the words space to breathe.
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There’s a tension-and-release structure. The verses feel tight, almost claustrophobic. This mirrors the lyrical themes of feeling trapped. Then, the chorus breaks open. It’s a sonic representation of the lyrics' promise: things will change, the walls will come down, and you’ll finally get that breath of fresh air.
Interestingly, some critics initially dismissed the song as being "too simple."
They weren't entirely wrong—the vocabulary isn't Shakespearean. But simple isn't a synonym for shallow. In pop and rock, the most enduring lyrics are often the ones that use plain language to describe complex emotions. "It won't always be like this" is a sentence a five-year-old can understand, but a ninety-year-old is still trying to master.
Common Misconceptions About the Song
People often assume the song was written specifically about the COVID-19 pandemic.
It wasn't.
As mentioned, the demo existed in 2019. The band has been very clear about this in press cycles, often expressing a bit of disbelief at how well the timing worked out. Another misconception is that it’s purely a "happy" song. If you listen closely to the verses, there’s a lot of anxiety baked in. It’s a song about wanting things to be better, which implies that right now, things are kind of a mess.
It’s a struggle, not a celebration.
The "Bono" Factor
It’s impossible to discuss Inhaler lyrics without someone bringing up Elijah’s dad. Some listeners try to find U2 references in every line. Does "It won't always be like this" sound like something from The Joshua Tree? Maybe. But that’s reductive. The lyrics have a grit and a modern "Dublin" feel that is distinct to this specific group of four friends who grew up together.
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Evolution of the Lyrics in Live Performances
If you watch a video of Inhaler performing this at Glastonbury or Reading & Leeds, the lyrics take on a new life.
The crowd usually takes over the chorus. At that point, the lyrics aren't "Inhaler’s" anymore. They belong to the 30,000 people in the mud. This is the hallmark of a great song. It moves from a personal diary entry to a public anthem. The band often extends the outro, letting the "it won't always be like this" refrain ring out long after the instruments have faded.
It’s a moment of collective catharsis.
Actionable Takeaways for Music Fans
If you’re just discovering the band through this track, or if you’ve had it on repeat for years, there’s a lot to dive into beyond the surface level.
- Compare the Versions: Go find the 2019 single version on YouTube or SoundCloud and compare it to the 2021 album version. You can hear the lyrics evolve in their delivery—the earlier version is more "punk," while the later one is more "stadium."
- Listen for the Bass: Robert Keating’s bassline is what actually drives the emotional narrative of the lyrics. It provides the "heartbeat" that makes the hopeful message feel grounded rather than cheesy.
- Explore the Full Album: While the title track is the standout, songs like "Cheer Up Baby" and "A Night on the Floor" expand on these lyrical themes of isolation and the desire for escape.
- Watch the Official Music Video: Directed by James Slater, the video uses psychedelic visuals and distorted perspectives to visualize that "out of control" feeling mentioned in the opening lines.
The it won't always be like this lyrics remind us that stagnation is temporary. Whether you're dealing with a career rut, a mental health struggle, or just a bad day, the song serves as a loud, rhythmic reminder that the only constant is change.
Pay attention to the bridge the next time you listen. The way the vocals stack on top of each other creates a wall of sound that feels like a physical push forward. It’s not just a song; it’s a momentum builder. Use it as such. Turn it up when you feel stuck. Let the repetition do its work.
The brilliance of the track isn't in its complexity, but in its conviction. It doesn't ask if things will get better; it insists on it.
Next Steps for Deepening Your Connection to the Music:
- Analyze the sequencing: Notice how this song is placed as the opener of the album. It sets a defiant tone for everything that follows.
- Contextualize the Dublin scene: Research other contemporary Irish bands like Fontaines D.C. or The Murder Capital to see how the "it won't always be like this" sentiment fits into the broader modern Irish rock landscape.
- Apply the mantra: Use the core lyric as a grounding exercise during high-stress moments to see if the rhythmic nature of the words provides the same psychological relief as it does during a live show.