The song is about promises a young girl had made to herself, but never actually kept them. Every day her promises are getting away. Still she thinks, with the new year, that she will actually make them come true.
[Chorus 1]
All I wanted comes in colors
Vanish every day
I keep these promises, these promises
Stranger things will come before you
Always out of the way
We keep these promises, these promises
[Chorus 2]
Can you call it? See it coming
Just enough to tell a story
'Bout a portrait of a young girl
Waiting for a new year
[Verse 1]
All you ever wanted
Is it getting away?
Visions of a feeling
The footsteps at bay
You were getting stronger
Memories again
Now you're open wider
It's better this way
[Chorus 1]
All I wanted comes in colors
Vanish every day
I keep these promises, these promises
Stranger things will come before you
Always out of the way
We keep these promises, these promises
[Bridge]
Won't you write a letter
On the page
In your own way?
Write it in a letter
On the page
It's your own way
[Verse 2]
You were getting wiser
It's better this way
Faces in the mirror
Memories again
Now look to a feeling
It's lighter than breath
All you ever wanted
Is it getting away?
[Chorus 2]
Can you call it? See it coming
Just enough to tell a story
'Bout a portrait of a young girl
Waiting for the ending of an era
Can you call it? See it coming
Just enough to tell a story
'Bout a portrait of a young girl
Waiting for the new year
New Year was written by Alex Scally & Victoria Legrand.
New Year was produced by Beach House & Chris Coady.
Beach House released New Year on Mon May 14 2012.