Adia, I do believe I failed you
Adia, I know I've let you down
Don't you know I tried so hard
To love you in my way
It's easy, let it go

Adia, I'm empty since you left me
Trying to find a way to carry on
I search myself and everyone
To see where we went wrong

There's no one left to finger
There's no one here to blame
There's no one left to talk to, honey
And there ain't no one to buy our innocence

'Cause we are born innocent
Believe me, Adia, we are still innocent
It's easy, we all falter
Does it matter?

Adia, I thought that we could make it
I know I can't change the way you feel
I leave you with your misery
A friend who won't betray
I pull you from your tower
I take away your pain
And show you all the beauty you possess
If you'd only let yourself believe

That we are born innocent
Believe me, Adia, we are still innocent
It's easy, we all falter
Does it matter?

'Cause we are born innocent
Believe me, Adia, we are still innocent
It's easy, we all falter
Does it matter?

Believe me, Adia, we are still innocent
'Cause we are born innocent
Believe me, Adia, we are still innocent
It's easy, we all falter
Does it matter?


Lyrics submitted by kevin

Adia Lyrics as written by Sarah Mclachlan Pierre Marchand

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Adia song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

91 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +6
    General Comment

    To me, this song is about feeling as though you have let someone down. Sarah is singing about Adia, a person who is troubled. Sarah feels responsible for Adia... she feels obligated to be Adia's should to lean on, and she tries to help Adia but Adia just isn't able to heal. Thus, Sarah feels like she has failed Adia. Also, I think that maybe "Adia" is really Sarah. Sarah is singing about how she has tried to love herself and feel whole, but to no avail. She's empty and lost, and she is upset that she has lost herself. My favorite line in this song is, "I leave you with your misery/a friend who won't betray". I can really understand that. When you feel so alone and sad, all you have is your misery. Even though your misery hurts, it's always there, no matter what. This song is beautiful. Sarah is amazing. I love her.

    miss moon March 10, 2003   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    The line "'Cause there's no one left to finger" is followed by "there's no one here to blame". She's not talking about fingering anyone... she's saying that there is no one else to point a finger at - she can't blame anyone.

    LemonFreshPinsolon September 03, 2002   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    from vh1 storytellers, Sarah said that this song talks about her "problems in dealing with feeling responsible for everyone else." adia is her (to why she named her adia, she just said that she likes the sound of it), and she talks to herself with this song. eeky people would actually think that its a gay song (theres no one left to finger), but said, theyre eeky so theres no surprise there

    gabe_phon May 31, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    I think all songs can be interpreted to yourself in some way. This song to me is about someone not protecting an innocent person when they felt it was their responsibility. They try to apologize to the innocent person, saying just because a bad thing had happened did not mean they lost their innocence. The protector says they tried to love them in their way, to me that means something was blocking this person from being able to love fully. But now this person is looking back and knows they didnt do right by the innocent one, and wants them to forgive them. She wants to take away their pain and suffer for what she neglected the innocent one for. I think its a very touching song, and hits me close to home. No matter what happens to us that is out of our control, we are all still born innocent, and are innocent even when bad things are done to us.

    Kellyscoloron July 08, 2013   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Sarah McLachlan is just <b>so</b> talented, and this song is proof of that.

    slave2discoon February 17, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I read on the main site for her that the song was about her best friend.

    garbojenon May 30, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    When you finger someone you blame them, as in "finger the suspect in the line-up." It's a common saying, unless you are 13.

    CaseyTheBrashon April 19, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    the one and only song i have heard by Sarah McLaughlan, it is one of the sweetest, most amazingly expressive songs i have ever heard and i agree with slave2disco, she is extremely talented. a truly inspirational song. xxx Lou

    rainbow8711on April 23, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    The "comment adder" if you will, asked me this question: "What does this song mean to you?" Simple: It means everything thats beautiful. Sarah is right up there with Lauryn and DMband

    iSheepon June 15, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    First of all, there is NOTHING WRONG WITH LESBIAN RELATIONSHIPS. Now that that's over with, I can get off of my soapbox.

    This song isn't about a lesbian relationship. I heard that it was to her friend who was in a relationship with the man she (Sarah) would later marry, but I could be wrong.

    dragonflyeyeson October 17, 2004   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
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
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
No Surprises
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Album art
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Album art
Midnight
Ed Sheeran
“Midnight” is a song about finding a love that is so true that it provides a calming feeling through every storm. Ed Sheeran reflects on his good fortunes in landing someone with such peace and support and speaks of not fearing the dark days because he knows they’ll all end in the safety nets of her arms. “Well, good morning there / What a way to start the day / With everything laid bare,” Ed Sheeran sings in the first verse, enthusiastic to be waking up beside his woman. He apologizes for missing her calls in the second verse and promises to return them because for him, speaking to her is the most important thing. “Well, I get lost inside my head / In this chaos, you’re my calm / And I will find my feet again / ‘Cause еven the worst days of my life will always еnd / At midnight in your arms,” sings Ed Sheeran in the chorus, revelling in his good luck.