Tuesday, May 16, 2006

 

"I didn't mean to break your heart"

Yesterday I rediscovered the Barenaked Ladies song "Break Your Heart" - I love it...it's such a great story, and there is so much depth for a short solo. Okay, apparently the song is five minutes, but it feels short.

It's about a guy who is with this girl, and he's totally not feeling it, but he's staying in the relationship because he doesn't want to hurt her by leaving. One of my favorite lines is:

And if I always seem distracted
Like my mind's somewhere else
That's because it's true, yes it's true

The first time I heard it (four years ago? five?), I was like "ouch. that's great."

And then partway through the song switches points of view to the girlfriend, but it's still the same person singing (it's the same guy for the whole song). And the girl responds:

What'd you think that I was gonna do,
Curl up and die just because of you?
I'm not that weak, you know
What'd you think that I was gonna do,
Try to make you love me as much as I love you?
How could you be so low?
You arrogant man,
What do you think that I am?
My heart will be fine
Just stop wasting my time

Her heart is breaking, but she knows that she deserves someone who wants to be with her, not someone who pities her.

So, in the end, the guy feels bad, because he broke her heart - but she gathers her self respect and her broken heart, and moves on. She's not going to try to force it.

I loved it even before my life sort of resembled it. Only, you know, I wasn't half as strong as her. I love how the guy thinks, I love how the girl responds, I love how they both are sad when the song ends, but are able to do the things necessary to become happier people.

Comments:
Why do you hate her? He loved that response - he didn't want to hear that she'd miss him.

Well, I'm sure a big part of him did, but he liked that she was strong and bucked up. She made it easier for him to walk away.

And he still knows that he broke her heart.
 
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