Music Friday: Lauv's 'Bracelet' Is a Tender Tribute to a Love That Slipped Away

Welcome to Music Friday, when we spotlight songs that feature jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, we’re revisiting Lauv’s poignant 2018 single, “Bracelet,” a tender tribute to a relationship that slipped away but left behind one unforgettable keepsake.

In “Bracelet,” Lauv uses a simple piece of jewelry to capture the complexity of heartbreak. The song opens with a stark confession: “I used to have you, now I have this bracelet / I let you go but baby I’m gonna wear it / Until I don’t need to / Until I don’t need you.”

It’s a moment of emotional honesty that sets the tone for the track. Lauv isn’t ready to let go, and the bracelet becomes a symbol of both memory and mourning. He even contemplates throwing it away, yet always pulls back.

“That don’t mean that I don’t need to keep you wrapped around my wrist,” he sings, highlighting how jewelry often becomes an emotional anchor in the aftermath of lost love.

“Bracelet” appears as the 15th track on Lauv’s conceptual album I Met You When I Was 18 (The Playlist), a collection of coming-of-age songs written during his time in New York City. Lauv described the project as an evolving narrative, chronicling his early adulthood, first serious relationship and personal growth.

“This is my life, it’s a playlist,” he told Billboard. “It’s an ongoing thing… piecing together this chapter of my life when I was in New York.”

Born Ari Staprans Leff in San Francisco in 1994, Lauv’s stage name is a tribute to his Latvian heritage (“Lauv” means “lion” in Latvian) and a nod to his own name. Ari means “lion” in Hebrew, and fittingly, he’s a Leo. His musical journey began early with piano and viola lessons, though he gravitated to guitar by age 11 and later studied jazz and electronic music.

As a student at New York University’s music technology program, Lauv began to hone his emotional, minimalist pop style. A difficult breakup in 2014 catalyzed his songwriting, and by 2015 he had released his debut EP Lost in the Light. His career took off quickly and, by 2017, he was opening for Ed Sheeran. Lauv is currently touring South Korea and Taiwan.

Lauv’s music often explores themes of love, identity and vulnerability, and “Bracelet” is a perfect example. With its blend of synth-driven production and raw lyricism, the song captures the lingering pain of letting go — and the way one small piece of jewelry can hold a world of meaning.

Please check out the official audio track of Lauv performing “Bracelet.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…

“Bracelet”
Written by Andrew Goldstein, Ari Leff and Michael Pollack. Performed by Lauv.

Didn’t know what I wanted
I’ll admit that
Still don’t know what I wanted
I’ll be honest, I’m not ready to let you go

I walk down memory lane late at night
I end up losing my way every time
I wake up missing you more
Oh why did I say goodbye?

I used to have you, now I have this bracelet
I used to have you, now I have this bracelet
I let you go but baby I’m gonna wear it
Until I don’t need to
Until I don’t need you

All I know is I can’t face it
I used to have you, now I have this bracelet
I let you go but baby I’m gonna wear it
Until I don’t need to
Until I don’t need you

Anyway I could toss it
I’ll admit that
That don’t mean that I need to keep you wrapped around my wrist
oh no

I walk down memory lane late at night
I end up losing my way every time
I wake up missing you more
Oh why did I say goodbye

I used to have you, now I have this bracelet
I used to have you, now I have this bracelet
I let you go but baby I’m gonna wear it
Until I don’t need to
Until I don’t need you

All I know is I can’t face it
I used to have you, now I have this bracelet
I let you go but baby I’m gonna wear it
Until I don’t need to
Until I don’t need you

And another day is passing by
Oh I still need you
Oh I still need you
And another day is passing by
Oh I still need you
Oh I still need you
All of these melatonin tears I cry
Oh I still need you
Oh I still need you

I used to have you, now I have this bracelet
I used to have you, now I have this bracelet
I let you go but baby I’m gonna wear it
Until I don’t need to
Until I don’t need you

All I know is I can’t face it
I used to have you, now I have this bracelet
I let you go but baby I’m gonna wear it
Until I don’t need to
Until I don’t need you

I walk down memory lane late at night
I end up losing my way every time
I wake up missing you more
Oh is it goodbye?

(Bye, Bye, Bye, Bye)
(Bye, Bye, Bye, Bye)
Missing you more oh why?

Credit: Photo by Harald Krichel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped).