From The Dining Table (song)

Harry Styles Writer(s) Jeff Bhasker Tyler Johnson Ryan Nasci Alex Salibian Harry Styles Mitch Rowland Producer(s) Jeff Bhasker Alex Salibian Tyler Johnson Released May 12, 2017 Recorded 2016-2017 Length 3:31 From Single(s) "Sign Of The Times" "Two Ghosts" "Kiwi" Promotional single(s) "Sweet Creature" Harry Styles track listing "Woman" N/A

"From The Dining Table" is a song performed by Harry Styles. It serves as the tenth and final track from Harry Styles.

Background

From The Dining Table first appeared as the tenth track on Harry's debut album, Harry Styles. He performed the song throughout Live On Tour.

An exclusive limited 7" vinyl of Harry's single Sign Of The Times was available for purchase on Styles's online store, with From The Dining Table appearing as the Side B of the vinyl.

Music and composition

According to Variety, Harry said the following about the track when he performed at the Grammy Museum in September 2017:

[‘From The Dining Table’] is the one that makes me feel the most. It’s the most different than what I expected myself to write and it’s probably the most honest that I’ve been in a song as well.

The New York Times commented that the opening line about masturbation is an example of there being more adult subject matter on Harry Styles, compared to One Direction's PG lyrics. Harry replied:

"I've never felt the need to explain myself in terms of my personal life. I very much feel like writing is the way you get to say what you want to say and be like, 'That's all I have to say on it.' With that one, I think it's up to everyone's interpretation, which is obviously an incredibly diplomatic answer. The line in particular, in context of the verse, paints the picture of the feeling that I was going at. It's much more powerful when not taken simply as what it is."

Critical reception

Variety writer Eve Barlow stated:

"Sonically, however, From The Dining Table works as a coda, bringing us back to that warm acoustic confessional style that almost veers into Laura Marling territory. “Fell back to sleep I got drunk by noon / I haven’t felt this cool… Even my phone misses your call by the way…” You’re put in the mental state of a global superstar who still gets painfully dejected by the object of his desire. By the time Styles nears the album’s end and blurts out the line, “Maybe one day you’ll call me and tell me you’re sorry, too” you’re rooting for him to receive some kind of karmic vindication."

HB In Retrospect opined:

"Ah, to be a cry song. This track is the last on the album and is very somber and melancholy. It depicts the pain of seeing someone you once loved move on to someone else. My favorite lyric is “we haven’t spoke since you went away/ comfortable silence is so overrated.” The track starts with a simple guitar melody. Then, Harry’s voice is introduced. The track was made so it feels like his voice surrounds you. Later in the song, harmonies are built in the chorus along with the addition of strings to build the emotion until the music dissipates into just that simple guitar again. This is my second favorite song on the album. The way the raw emotion in the vocals and the simplicity of the guitar combine never fails to get the tears rolling. (10/10)"

Lyrics

Woke up alone in this hotel room
Played with myself, where were you?
Fell back to sleep, I got drunk by noon
I've never felt less cool

We haven't spoke since you went away
Comfortable silence is so overrated
Why won't you ever be the first one to break?
Even my phone misses your call, by the way

I saw your friend that you know from work
He said you feel just fine
I see you gave him my old t-shirt
More of what was once mine

I see your grin, it's all over his face
Comfortable silence is so overrated
Why won't you ever say what you want to say?
Even my phone misses your call, by the way

Maybe one day you'll call me and tell me that you're sorry too
Maybe one day you'll call me and tell me that you're sorry too
Maybe one day you'll call me and tell me that you're sorry too
But you, you never do

Woke up the girl who looked just like you
I almost said your name

We haven't spoke since you went away
Comfortable silence is so overrated
Why won't you ever say what you want to say?
Even my phone misses your call
We haven't spoke since you went away
Comfortable silence is so overrated
Why won't you ever say what you want to say?
Even my phone misses your call, by the way

Audio

YouTube

Harry Styles - From the Dining Table (Audio)