Song meaning of I’ll Only Miss Her When I Think of Her by Seth MacFarlane

The song "I'll Only Miss Her When I Think of Her" by Seth MacFarlane delves into the bittersweet experience of reminiscing about a lost love. The lyrics suggest that the protagonist has separated from someone special and is coping with the absence. The central message conveyed by the lyrics is the notion of selective longing and gradual healing.

The first verse establishes that the protagonist misses this person only when they actively remember them. It implies that the memory of their presence floods the protagonist's mind and consumes their thoughts. The second verse implies that despite the difficulties and the flaws in their relationship, the protagonist now sees even those aspects as precious and worth cherishing.

In the third verse, the protagonist admits that it's not the absence itself that triggers the longing; rather, it occurs when they hear a stranger with a laugh reminiscent of their lost love's laugh. This highlights the profound impact the person had on the protagonist's life and the lingering attachment they still hold. 

The outro suggests the passage of time may eventually lessen the pain and longing. The protagonist expresses hope that in the future, there will be moments when the memories disappear altogether. The final line humorously speculates that the memories of this lost love will eventually be forgotten completely in about a hundred years.

Overall, "I'll Only Miss Her When I Think of Her" captures the complexity of missing someone, the significance of small triggers, and the gradual process of healing and moving on. It emphasizes how memories can both torment and heal, ultimately providing a nuanced portrayal of the human experience of loss and longing.