BACK WHEN YOU WERE MINE Lyrics – The Kid LAROI

The Kid LAROI is closing out his rawest chapter yet with Back When You Were Mine, the emotional finale to Before I Forget, his third album dropping January 9, 2026, via Columbia Records, and it’s the kind of quiet closer that leaves you sitting with your thoughts long after it ends.

This track feels like LAROI pulling the curtain back on everything he’s held in, a soft, reflective look at a love that’s gone but still echoes loud. From the snippets and buildup, it’s built on those stripped-back melodies he does so well—gentle guitars or keys fading in, his voice carrying that fragile edge as he unpacks regret, the good times that hurt to remember, and the growth that comes from letting go. No heavy production overload here; it’s intimate pop-R&B with trap undertones, fitting right into the album’s core of heartbreak and self-discovery. Written mostly in the months after his July split with Tate McRae, it ties into tracks like A Cold Play that hint at the same story, turning personal pain into something universal without naming names.

Before I Forget marks a full reset for him—he scrapped a whole previous project to start fresh, calling this his most honest and personal work in posts that hit fans hard. The tracklist rolls out around 15 songs, mixing the lead singles A Perfect World and A Cold Play with deeper cuts, and Back When You Were Mine lands last, like the sigh at the end of a long conversation. He announced it back in November with that vulnerable note about making it from scratch in four months, and the pre-save on Spotify is live for the full reveal and alerts—it’s already got that cover pulling you in with its moody vibe.

At 22, LAROI’s hitting this stride where the early viral chaos has settled into real artistry. After The First Time’s mixed run and a year of features plus that Berlin halftime spotlight, this feels like him owning the narrative—turning a tough breakup and creative doubts into fuel, evolving from the kid with Stay to a guy who’s not afraid to bleed on the mic. It’s growth you can hear, and this closer might just be the one that sticks longest.

Dive into the Back When You Were Mine lyrics below and unpack its raw narrative. Don’t miss other Before I Forget tracks for more of The Kid LAROI’s unguarded heart.