Find the full lyrics to Olivia Dean’s ‘A Couple Minutes.’ Get the official words for singalongs from her album ‘The Art of Loving.’
The lyrics for Olivia Dean’s “A Couple Minutes” construct a narrative of a brief, consequential encounter between former partners. The words provide the script for a poignant conversation, ideal for listeners who connect with the song’s story. The opening verse sets an intimate scene with immediate observation: “Since when are you smoking now?” It establishes a history and a limited timeframe with the line, “Only have a couple minutes.” The questions about moving house and using a specific name highlight shared memories that only these two people possess. The chorus finds the narrator “Back on your sofa,” a specific image that evokes familiarity and past intimacy. The central philosophical line, “Love’s never wasted when it’s shared,” offers a core thesis for the song, suggesting value persists even after a relationship ends. The repeated constraint of “a couple minutes” contrasts with the depth of feeling, pushing the interaction toward “real life.”
olivia dean the art of loving
The second verse reveals a bittersweet acceptance. Lines like “I guess we found a silver lining” and “I’m glad you’re doing so well” show a struggle for graciousness. The narrator admits, “it ain’t been the same,” but decides talking is “no good for me.” The conclusion that “There’s some good in goodbyes” marks a point of emotional resolution. The post-chorus section, with its repetitive “In your heart, every part of me, we’ll let go / And let it start to be,” functions as a mantra. This repetition is key for listener engagement, creating a meditative, singable passage that emphasizes release and new beginnings.
For fans collecting lyrics for karaoke or deeper knowledge, the song offers a relatable snapshot of closure. The lyrics capture the awkwardness, care, and finality that can exist in a short meeting long after a romance ends. The specific details—the sofa, the smoking habit, the old nickname—ground the universal feeling in a tangible scene. This specificity, paired with the overarching theme of cherishing shared love despite an ending, makes the words powerful for vocal performance. The structure allows singers to embody both the tentative questions of the verses and the resigned wisdom of the chorus, providing a complete emotional arc within a few minutes.
Produced by Tommy Danvers, Zach Nahome
September 26, 2025
12 songs, 34 minutes
A Capitol Records UK / Polydor Label Group release; ℗ 2025 Universal Music Operations Limited
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Turn around
Since when are you smoking now?
It’s been a while
Let me know, mm
Like did you end up moving house?
You’re the only one who knows that name
You’re the only one that does that face
I just wanna know if you’re okay
Only have a couple minutes, it already kinda feels like
[Chorus]
Back on your sofa
Of course I still care
Love’s never wasted when it’s shared, mm
And although it’s over
I’ll always be there
Only have a couple minutes, guess we’re going back to real life
[Verse 2]
I guess we found a silver lining
I’m glad you’re doing so well
If only you could see how I’ve been
If I’m being real, no, it ain’t been the same
We could talk (Mm) if we want now (Mm)
Already know it’s no good for me
It’s alright, think I’m fine with the silence
There’s some good in goodbyes
[Chorus]
Oh, I’m back on your sofa
Of course I still care
Love’s never wasted when it’s shared, mm
And although it’s over
I’ll always be there
Only have a couple minutes and we’re going back to real life
[Post-Chorus]
In your heart, every part of me, we’ll let go
And let it start to be
In your heart, every part of me, we’ll let go
And let it start to be
In your heart, every part of me, we’ll let go
And let it start to be (Ooh)
In your heart, every part of me, we’ll let go
And let it start to be
[Outro]
Oh-oh, hey
Only have a couple minutes, guess we’re going back to real life
Oh-oh, hey
Have a couple minutes and we’re going back to real life
