I know that I can't have it all
But without you I am afraid I'll fall
I know I'm playing with your heart
And I could treat you better but I'm not that smart

When it comes to love, you're an easy fight
A flower in a gun, a bird in flight
It isn't fair and it isn't right
To lead you on like it's all alright

I played with your heart
And I could treat you better but I'm not that smart
You still mean everything to me
To me
But I wanna be free

I'll ruin, yeah, I'll ruin you (I'll ruin you)
I've been doing things I shouldn't do (Things I shouldn't do)

Yeah, uh huh, ooh, yeah
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, yeah

It's difficult to move on
When nothing was right and nothing's wrong
You still can't look me in the eye
'Cause you've been bitten once and now you're twice as shy

I've had my share of beautiful men
But I'm still young and I wanna love again
It's difficult to say goodbye
And easier to live a lover's lie

And I've tried to say
Babe, I'm gonna ruin you if you let me stay
You still mean everything to me,
To me
But I wanna be free

I'll ruin, yeah, I'll ruin you (I'll ruin you)
I've been doing things I shouldn't do (Things I shouldn't do)

Yeah, uh huh, ooh, yeah
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, yeah

It doesn't feel right and it doesn't feel fair
When I'm planning to move on and you're still standing there
Don't wanna keep a secret but I don't know how to keep it fair, yeah

I'll ruin, yeah, I'll ruin you (I'll ruin you)
I've been doing things I shouldn't do (Things I shouldn't do)

But I don't wanna say goodbye
But, baby, I don't wanna lie
To lie, to lie to you
I'm a ruin

Yeah, uh huh, ooh, yeah
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, yeah
Yeah, uh huh, ooh, yeah


Lyrics submitted by dlsfjdsfdsfsadfd

I'm a Ruin Lyrics as written by Marina Lambrini Diamandis

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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I'm a Ruin song meanings
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3 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    I love this song so much, it's definitely one of my favorite songs off of FROOT.

    She's basically saying that she wants to be with this guy, but she knows that she'll just end up breaking his heart. This guy has a hard time moving on from her because he without a doubt loves her and she feels guilty because she betrayed his trust, went behind his back, and knows she doesn't deserve his love. She is telling him "I need to leave you and move on because if you let me stay with you, I'm going to just end up ruining you."

    GoddessofLoveon March 19, 2015   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    One of my all time favourite. I always felt like it was about having someone in love with you while feeling like you're not supposed to be together even though you really care about that person. Like being torn between wanting to be with them because of the romantic feeling you both have but also wanting to run away because something about the possible relationship feels wrong. Feeling like the most fault is on your side because you're too insecure, too twisted to bear with, too full of self-doubt whether you're really ready to be with someone. because you just feel like they wouldn't be happy with you and you would end up hurting them, yet you still somehow can't let them go.

    SadDaddy69on April 22, 2022   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning

    Looooove this song.

    "I know that I can have it all But without you I am afraid I'll fall I know I'm playing with your heart And I could treat you better but I'm not that smart."

    Setting up the situation- she has power over the relationship, yet fears her own independence- her lover is a safety blanket.

    "When it comes to love you're an easy fight A flower in a gun; a bird in flight"

    The relationship is natural- it comes easily, and despite the situation it's a good one

    "It isn't fair and it isn't right To lead you on like it's all alright

    "I played with your heart (And I could treat you better but I'm not that smart) You still mean everything to me, to me But I wanna be free"

    Kinda self explanatory, despite the fact she still cares for her partner she feels like its expiration had come and she's ready to move on

    "I'll ruin, yeah I'll ruin you I've been doing things I shouldn't do Etc"

    I've been doing things I shouldn't do- perhaps she hasn't been faithful, or been doing things to suggest that she's single to interested parties etc

    "It's difficult to move on When nothing's was right and nothing's wrong You still can't look me in the eye 'Cuz you've been bitten once and now you're twice as shy"

    So again- it's a good relationship, but it's just not meant to be. Perhaps she has already attempted to end the relationship (can't look her in the eye) or her partner has already had someone leave them before- they've been in a situation where they have been left before and now it takes them a long time to open up an trust again

    "I've had my share of beautiful men But I'm still young and I wanna love again It's difficult to say goodbye And easier to live a lovers lie"

    She's not struggling with the decision here- she's clearly made her choice, but she is procrastinating breaking up with their lover to spare their feelings

    "And I've tried to say 'Babe I'm gonna ruin you if you let me stay'"

    She's tried to hint it maybe, or tell them that she's not good for them.

    Then just at the end "I'm a ruin" which ties it up nicely- she's ruining them both with her struggle.

    No one needed an explanation that long but this was completely self-indulgent :P

    beljaneton November 11, 2015   Link

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