I opened my eyes while you were kissing me once more than once
And you looked as sincere as a dog
Just as sincere as a dog does when it’s the food on your lips with which its in love
I’ll bet you can never tell that I knew you didn’t know me that well
It is my fault you see you never learned that much from me

Oh you silly, stupid past time of mine
You were always good for a rhyme
And from the first to the last times the sign says stop but we went on whole-hearted
It ended bad but I loved what we started
It said stop
But, we went on whole-hearted it ended bad but I love what we started

I took off my glasses while you were yelling at me once more than once
So as not to see you see me react
Should’ve put ‘em, should’ve put ‘em on again
So I could see you see me sincerely yelling back
I bet your fortress fades
Belied your fort of lays
It is by the grace of me you never learned what I could see

Oh you silly, stupid past time of mine
You were always good for a ride
And from the first to all the last times all the signs said stop but we went on whole-hearted
It ended bad but I loved what we started
It said stop
But, we went on whole-hearted it ended bad but I love what we started


Lyrics submitted by ophelia219

Parting Gift song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

35 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +3
    General Comment

    this one always hits the spot when i'm in a true fiona apple mood. ahh depressing music keeps me company when i'm sad.

    kpyllaon March 29, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Luey_baby, I think at first when she says she took off her glasses "so's not to see you see me react", she means that she was afraid of what he would think of her being emotional, vulnerable; she considers her anger/pain a weakness. But then she feels she should have put them on again so she could have see him reacting in the same way to her own fierce anger (her "sincerely yelling back"); she then could have noticed how she had been just as strong as him, if not stronger.

    But that's just what I think.. Hope that makes sense.

    liberatepotatoeson July 02, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    she believes that her boyfriend only wants her for sex hence the line:Just as sincere as a dog does when it’s the food on your lips with which its in love and she feels that he doesn;t even know her.It seems as thouhg she has known what has been going on for a while now but has been passive about the way he's treating her but according to the 3rd stanza she finally reacts to him.and she knows it's all bad because she admits:And from the first to the last times the sign says stop but we went on whole-hearted.It ended bad but I loved what we started.i think many people can relate to being in a relationship where they keep hoping things will be better and their partner will finally meet their expectations.

    tangerine!on July 28, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I loved this song from the first time I heard it, just because of how beautiful it is musically. But at the time, I was kind of desperately being blind about certain, erm, terrible terrible hopeless situations (or one in particular) so I thought surely I would never "relate" to this song.

    Flash forward about a year and, yeah, this definitely speaks to me. I was in a 4 1/2 year relationship with a guy I just adored. But he, well, I don't know. More and more I think I never really knew him. The break up was very long, very messy, and so sooo painful. You know, I just wanted to forget the past four years. But then, it was complicated because we had a child, a beautiful lovely little girl. And she makes me so so happy, even though she looks just like him :) And I thought, this SUCKS. I can't say, "I wish I'd never met him" because if I'd never met him, she wouldn't be here. And realizing my gratitude for having her soooo far outweighed my hurt and pain over losing him really helped me. Then I remembered this song... "The signs said stop, but we went on whole-hearted. It ended bad, but I love what we started."

    So... probably not exactly what Fiona had in mind, but it works for me :)

    katrwaulon July 15, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I heard this song for the first time last week. I discovered it because someone referenced it in a blog about a tv show. Since I loved the lyrics, "It ended bad but I love what we started", I knew I had to check this out. Uh-mazing! It's a reminder that ignorance is bliss until you get knowledge. Once she realized that the person didn't really love her, as painful as it was, they had to part. But, no hard feelings, right?

    LaurelGon October 10, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i love this song so much.

    stereogirlon September 09, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    its beatiful. and the video is perfect just being her playing on the piano.

    its obvious what the song is about... i can relate.. horribly well.

    hoydenon December 10, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    beautiful*

    hoydenon December 10, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    so good, probably my favorite fiona apple song, just drink it in.

    hailtokidamnesiacon January 30, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love it.

    alternativegrlxon March 26, 2006   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
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
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
When We Were Young
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Album art
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example: "'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.