This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
I pack my bags, I'm going away
I'm only leaving for a day
It's nice to have some time alone
And it's nice to know how I miss home
I wrote this song to let you know
I'm better with you
I'm better with you
I'm better because you give meaning to the words "I love you"
I'm better with you
I'm better with you
I'm better because you are who I love to say those words to
You're always with me in my head
I take you with me in my heart
It's better when I'm in your bed
It's better when we're not appart
I just can't do this alone
I'm better with you
I'm better with you
I'm better because you give meaning to the words "I love you"
I'm better with you
I'm better with you
I'm better because you are who I love to say those words to
You, you
Yeah, life's about the people who surround you
Love's the only thing it all comes down to
I just want you to know
I'm better with you
I'm better with you
I'm better with you
I'm better with you
I'm better because you give meaning to the words "I love you"
I'm better with you
I'm better because you are who I love to say those words to
You, you
I'm only leaving for a day
It's nice to have some time alone
And it's nice to know how I miss home
I wrote this song to let you know
I'm better with you
I'm better with you
I'm better because you give meaning to the words "I love you"
I'm better with you
I'm better with you
I'm better because you are who I love to say those words to
You're always with me in my head
I take you with me in my heart
It's better when I'm in your bed
It's better when we're not appart
I just can't do this alone
I'm better with you
I'm better with you
I'm better because you give meaning to the words "I love you"
I'm better with you
I'm better with you
I'm better because you are who I love to say those words to
You, you
Yeah, life's about the people who surround you
Love's the only thing it all comes down to
I just want you to know
I'm better with you
I'm better with you
I'm better with you
I'm better with you
I'm better because you give meaning to the words "I love you"
I'm better with you
I'm better because you are who I love to say those words to
You, you
Lyrics submitted by endlesswntr
Better With You Lyrics as written by John J. Alagia Jason Thomas Mraz
Lyrics © Word Collections Publishing, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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i think this song means that he is in a relationship with someone, but something happened, and obviously he thinks that he has the right whether to apologize or not (it's something like i apologize it's something i still can't decide) and he thinks with a little time and space, everuything will get better
On the recording I have of this song, he introduces it as "a fuck you" song....so I think there's alot more anger there than what seems.
In the version I have he introduces it by saying:
I’m gonna do a really quiet and depressing tune from my last one. It’s a song in case you’re being stalked by anyone and you just want them to go away and go away doesn’t really work. There was a comedian that once said “fuck off” and I would use something different if something meant the same because go away certainly doesn’t mean the same! So this is a fuck off song.
i think maybe she's done something wrong, like maybe cheated, and he does love her and is really pissed off but still wants it to work becuase she means that much to him?? a lot of anger in it though i think!
This song is one of my favorites. Everyone I know says it breaks their heart. Lines like "beautiful things can never stay" make my introspective self go bonkers. It's my brain sugar. It's so simple, yet so complex. I sympathize, but I can't help but feeling revitalized after each listen. Then again, I listen to Emily Haines, Elliott Smith, etc... So I may not be the most qualified to comment.
I so need this song right now.
"and i want to say that it's not always easy but it's simple that way" - i love this. he's saying, yeah i know it's hard, but it's always hard. you can always expect that.
"so you say it gets better it only gets better better this way better, maybe it's better this way" - have you ever had someone fight with you over a break up? they're telling you this is just a rough patch, and they want to work through it... it will get better, they promise. but you've had it... and you don't want to work through it anymore. at this point, it's just better this way.
and then when he says "it only gets better" ... to try and comfort her, my heart breaks. cause you know that girl is not hearing him. but it's true. no point in staying with someone that doesn't love you... such a sad song... but it's addicting.
this is definitely my favorite mraz tune. well, this one and I'm Yours... which is the total opposite, actually, now that i think about it. haha.
jason mraz is my hero.