Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: folk
Song Meaning of “How’s It Going to Be” by Jack and White
How’s It Going to Be is a romantic duet about two hearts reflecting on the joys and pains of falling in love. They wonder if the relationship between them can last, despite the fears and doubts that tend to linger in the back of their minds. The title serves both as a question and an affirmation: no matter what hopes and dreams they have, how will they bridge the gap between them?
The opening verse paints a hopeful but uncertain picture of the future. The singer asks if they’ll both be brave enough to take the risk and open up to one another, despite all the risk and difficulty this entails: “We’ll never know if we never try How’s it going to be/Wrapped in a question and a mystery/Will we take the chance or stay paralyzed?” Jack and White suggest that true love requires courage and determination, and that the journey of being together will be far from easy.
The second verse delves further into the fear and doubt that comes along with committing to a relationship. The singers are aware of the potential danger they face, and the fragility of their connection: “Is it gonna be okay/Are we breaking down or getting stronger?/Struggling now or later in the dark/Can we make it last.” Ultimately, they choose to move forward in search of something better and more lasting, despite the feelings of uncertainty.
The chorus is a proclamation of faith in the power of love to conquer all: “Love will lead us, part of us/Never letting go, no/Love will heal us, won’t deceive us/Nothing ever gonna break us.” They refuse to back down in the face of adversity, choosing to embrace their bond and the challenging journey that it entails.
The message of the song is both simple and profound: in order to make a love that will stand true, two souls must be brave and accept the risk of disappointment and uncertainty. But if they are both willing to put in the effort and never give up, anything is possible. In the end, only love will lead them to a place of lasting joy and peace.