"Breakdown" as written by and Tom Petty....
It's alright if you love me
It's alright if you don't
I'm not afraid of you runnin' away, honey
I get the feeling you won't
There is no sense in pretending
Your eyes give you away
Something inside you is feeling like I do
We said all there is to say
Baby, breakdown, go ahead and give it to me
Breakdown, honey, take me through the night (baby, baby, breakdown)
Breakdown, now I'm standin' here, can't you see?
Breakdown, it's all right
It's all right
It's all right
Breakdown, go ahead and give it to me
Breakdown, honey, take me through the night (baby, baby, breakdown)
Breakdown, now I'm standin' here, can't you see?
Breakdown, it's all right
It's all right
It's all right
It's alright if you don't
I'm not afraid of you runnin' away, honey
I get the feeling you won't
There is no sense in pretending
Your eyes give you away
Something inside you is feeling like I do
We said all there is to say
Baby, breakdown, go ahead and give it to me
Breakdown, honey, take me through the night (baby, baby, breakdown)
Breakdown, now I'm standin' here, can't you see?
Breakdown, it's all right
It's all right
It's all right
Breakdown, go ahead and give it to me
Breakdown, honey, take me through the night (baby, baby, breakdown)
Breakdown, now I'm standin' here, can't you see?
Breakdown, it's all right
It's all right
It's all right
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It seems to be about just letting loose and giving into the feelings that you have. In this context, it's about a romantic encounter.
It is pretty simple but very relatable. I think we've all been in a situation where you know the vibes are there but you know the other person has put up a wall of some sort because they're almost afraid to open up to it. It's always so strange, and you just know that if the wall ever got broken down, it would be complete passion.
It's alright if you love me
It's alright if you don't
But they've been through a lot together so the speaker doubts this is the end:
I'm not afraid of you runnin' away honey
I've got this feeling you won't
They've 'said all there is to say' and yet the rest of the song is begging the lover to 'break down and give it to me'. What's that about?
I don't think this is about getting a girl to break down her wall, or is a prelude to sex. I think the speaker has endured some emotional onslaught or hostility from the lover that the speaker doesn't understand. 'We've said all there is to say' because the speaker doesn't understand where the lover is coming from. They're at a stand still. But rather than say, 'work it out yourself' or 'come back when you're ready to speak more calmly', the speaker shouts 'Break down and give it to me' over and over. The speaker wants the the lover to express him or herself in any way they can, to 'break down' and let it all out. This is not a conversation. 'Break down and give it to me'. I have a feeling you won't' leave, but I need you to tell me what is going on. I have all night. 'Break down and give it to me'.
One thing I really like about this song--and I have no idea if it's intentional or not--is that the narrator tries to play it cool and put on the whole "I don't care" act ("It's alright if you love me/It's alright if you don't"), but as the song progresses it becomes painfully obvious that he does very much care, and it frustrates him to no end that the object of his affections won't give into her feelings for him ("Breakdown/I'm standing here, can't you see?").
They've said all there is to say and he just wants her to give it to him straight. He say "it's alright" (I can take it)...