Puth pines for a lost love in his song “Left and Right.” He remembers the way he felt with her. He fixates on the way their intense sex in bed still titillates him through memories. Belying the sadness of the lyrics, the music of the song is both bubbly and upbeat. His duet with BTS’s Jungkook is low-key and smooth. These differences seem to highlight a feeling of deep-seated hope that supports the singers through their pain, which both express to a therapist in the accompanying music video. Puth doesn’t mention if the former lover left the relationship or died and “left him behind,” but depending on the listener’s circumstances, it’s easy to interpret the song either way.

A Synergy of Cooperation

Puth has a good relationship with Jungkook. Their friendship has a foundation of mutual respect. Puth recently told Rolling Stone that he thought of Jungkook as a prodigy. Puth also admires the Korean singer’s perfect pitch while also expressing surprise that even though he speaks no Korean, and Jungkook no English, they can communicate effectively with music.

Satellite radio shock jock Howard Stern is a shrewd and intelligent interviewer. When Puth was a guest on his show, Stern asked him where the deep undercurrents of the song came from. He astutely noted that such depth of meaning is unusual in the remarkably bland and vanilla world of a great deal of modern pop music. Puth gave an interesting answer, saying that the inspiration for the title “Left and Right” came from listening to “Yellow Submarine.” Puth said that because The Beatles only had eight tracks with which to record, they had to put them all on one side of the system. Now, he noted, he has unlimited tracks. He toyed with the idea of recording all of his and Jungkook’s vocals on one side, but it didn’t work. So, they decided to make the vocals go from “left to right.” Thereafter, the song title was born!

The Song in Other Media

In 2022, during the 22nd season of “The Voice,” “Left and Right” appeared on the show. The song also made it to No. 3 in Taiwan while charting a very respectable No. 15 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The song also made it all the way to No. 1 in other Asian markets, such as India, Vietnam, and the Philippines. In the United States, “Left and Right” has also achieved gold status for selling at least 500,000 copies.

Music Video

Lyrics

Memories follow me left and right
I can feel you over here, I can feel you over here
You take up every corner of my mind (what you gon’ do now?)

Ever since the d-day y-you went away (no, I don’t know how)
How to erase your body from out my brain (what you gon’ do now?)
Maybe I should just focus on me instead (but all I think about)
Are the nights we were tangled up in your bed

Oh no (oh no)
Oh no (oh no)
You’re goin’ ’round in circles
Got you stuck up in my head, yeah

Memories follow me left and right
I can feel you over here, I can feel you over here
You take up every corner of my mind
Your love stays with me day and night
I can feel you over here, I can feel you over here
You take up every corner of my mind (what you gon’ do now?)

Ever since the d-day y-you went away (someone tell me how)
How much more do I gotta drink for the pain (what you gon’ do now?)
You did things to me that I just can’t forget (now all I think about)
Are the nights we were tangled up in your bed

Oh no (oh no)
Oh no (oh no)
You’re going ’round in circles
Got you stuck up in my head, yeah

Memories follow me left and right
I can feel you over here, I can feel you over here
You take up every corner of my mind (of my mind)
Your love stays with me day and night
I can feel you over here, I can feel you over here
You take up every corner of my mind (what you gon’ do now?)

Did you know you’re the one that got away?
And even now, baby, I’m still not okay
Did you know that my dreams, they’re all the same
Every time I close my eyes?

Memories follow me left and right
I can feel you over here, I can feel you over here
You take up every corner of my mind (what you gon’ do now?)
Your love stays with me day and night
I can feel you over here, I can feel you over here
You take up every corner of my mind (what you gon’ do now?)
(Whoa)
I can feel you over here, I can feel you over here
You take up every corner of my mind (what you gon’ do now?)

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Charlie Puth / Jacob Hindlin

Left and Right lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Listeners that enjoy this song about Love may also enjoy the song Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol

Editor’s Note: This article was first published October 8th, 2022 and last updated April 5th, 2023.