For all the anguish,
And degradation
For every time I needed truth
And you were faithless
But disappointment, self-deprecation
But living a lie for fantasize and you could save me

I need my cross like a blanket
And misery is comfort
I can hardly stand to blame myself for filling prophecy on you
And in the end I decided
I guess I felt I deserved it
I should kiss your dirty lips for bringing me my clarity

And how did you just make me see?
How your lies have buried me
But I forgive you
Lord I must forgive you
So I

I feel so high
Just let it go we would
I forgive you
Lord I must forgive you
So I

(Shut up)

For all the torment
Loss of independence
For disrespect, carelessness with my emotions
For all the screams I swallow
How a soul is hollow
For giving into temptation
For making me feel like a cheap replacement

And how did you just make me see
How your lies have buried me
But I forgive you
Lord I must forgive you
'cause I

I feel so high
Just let it go we would
I forgive you
Lord I must forgive you
'Cause I

All the lies that I believed
And all the guilt you make me feel
'Cause I forgive you
Lord I must forgive you
'Cause I

Oh I feel so good just letting go
You know I feel good now you're gone

Getting stronger, letting go
Getting stronger, I'm moving on
Getting stronger, I'm letting go
Getting stronger, I'm getting stronger
No

This time
I forgive you
Lord I

And how the truth does make me see
And how your lies have buried me
I forgive you
Lord I
I must forgive you
Lord I

All the lies that I believed
And all the guilt you make me feel
I forgive you
'Cause I forgive you
Lord I must forgive you
'Cause I

And how the truth does make me see
How your lies have buried me
I forgive you
'cause I forgive you
Lord I
I must forgive you

(This time)

All the lies that I believed
Guilt you make me feel
This time
I must forgive you

I feel so high
I feel so high

'Cause it feels so good just letting go
You know I feel good now you go


Lyrics submitted by Vamprexa

I Forgive You Lyrics as written by Darren Stanley Hayes Darren Hayes

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

I Forgive You song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

7 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    I so love this one...It is saying, yes, you hurt me so deeply, but I HAVE TO forgive you, in order to move on with my life....And as I do it...I'll get strong and on my feet again... Something I have yet to accomplish, but a very well-known feeling that anyone who's ever felt betrayed can relate to.

    Gabigson August 10, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love "I forgive you", I think it's such a cathardic song and it really touches on various different issues. I think some of it is about his father, and that aspect of his past. Whereas, some other parts of the song are about his former love, being another rhelm of his past. Maybe we can even go as far as saying that the first verse is directed at both of them, just as an introduction and opening to the song. Generalizing between the two; ((For all the anguish, And degradation For every time I needed truth And you were faithless But disappointment, self-deprecation But living a lie for fantasize and you could save me))

    Where as the second is possibly just directed to the past lover, narrowing it down a little;

    ((I need my cross like a blanket And misery is comfort I can hardly stand to blame myself for filling prophecy on you And in the end I decided I guess I felt I deserved it I should kiss your dirty lips for bringing me my clarity))

    And then finally the third verse being mainly directed at his father, finally bringing the song full circle;

    ((For all the torment Loss of independence For disrespect, carelessness with my emotions For all the screams I swallow How a soul is hollow For giving into temptation For making me feel like a cheap replacement))

    And I use "mainly directed" because possibly they are all just general feelings towards both of them, but there are little hints and more specific lyrics that are pointing to one more than the other at times, but can possibly work for both.

    In any case, it seems that TATS really is mostly songs about this "past lover" that we all talk about. It must just be incredible (obviously not only to have been with Darren and been so close with him, loved him etc) to have almost an entire CD by an amazing artist be pertaining to or about you. Even though most of his feelings are harsh and unflattering, it still must feel really surreal to have evoked that much emotion from one man, who has poured all of his feelings into something so incredible. It just would be so unreal to listen to it, knowing what he's talking about and just...the regrets or (maybe not so much) memories must just be a crazy feeling to experience.

    Misseveruson March 04, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Thank you Misseverus, it was interesting. I never thought about his father in this one, but it could certainly be about him. I always assumed it was to a former lover of his... I used to sing this song loud so I could feel better myself (specially the lines "for giving into temptation, for making me feel like a cheap replacement") - there is this guy that did me so wrong and filled me with bitterness, because he already had someone else in his life but still took advantage of me by hitting me in my low spots. I think of Darren as a very similar person as I am: nice and polite, and basically still innocent inside; and that makes other people think that they can take advantage of you and taking the best of you. But what can you do?. Specially since you've already fallen into their lies. TTATS was very cathartic to me as well, but after all this time I found myself making the same mistakes again...so I'll probably play it everyday again to remind me and helping me get out of this hole :(

    Gabigson March 07, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Awww, I feel for you darling. Some people can be so cruel to others, and I don't understand. From what I know, you deserve much better than that! This song can definately help with such emotions. Keep up releasing your pent up energy about stupid men with this... it's healthy and hell; it's good music to boot! Don't sell yourself short though. You are so much better than this person who has done this to you. You'll rise above, no doubt.

    Misseveruson March 08, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Awwwwww thank you :) Sorry for being so repetitive...(embarrased).

    Gabigson March 12, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song helped me through so, so much. I have moved on, and I am stronger now. For me, it's more of a two bad experiences, thing. A dark past, that he thought would be cured by a relationship, which also turned sour. But there are some people that you just have to forgive. And it feels so good just letting go. Not letting the experiences of the past control your life anymore. This song and Two Beds and a Coffee Machine have pretty much literally saved my life.

    rayneinspayneon July 09, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think that this song is completely sarcastic, bitter, condescending, and that's why it's brilliant. The lines "I forgive you" are spoken with such contempt, and no bit of forgiveness at all! It's a wonderful example of how one can be singing something and quite obviously mean the exact opposite.

    Srahon November 26, 2007   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Blue
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.