She laughed in my face, told me goodbye
Said "Don't think about it, you can go crazy
Anything can happen, anything can end
Don't try to fight it, don't try to save me"

She's a woman in love
She's a woman in love
And he's gonna break her heart to pieces
She don't want to see
She's a woman in love, but it's not me

Well alright, do what you want
Don't try to talk, don't say nothin'

She used to be the kind of woman
You have and you hold
She could understand the problems
She let the little things go

She's a woman in love
She's a woman in love
And he's gonna break her heart to pieces
She don't want to know
She's a woman in love, she can't let go

Time after time, night after night
She would look up at me and say she was lonely
I don't understand the world today
I don't understand what she needed
I gave her everything, she threw it all away on nothin'
She's a woman in love

She's a woman in love
And he's gonna break her heart to pieces
She don't want to see
She's a woman in love, but it's not me


Lyrics submitted by oofus

A Woman in Love (It's Not Me) [Live at the Forum, Inglewood, CA, 6/28/81] Lyrics as written by Michael W Campbell Thomas Earl Petty

Lyrics © Gone Gator Music

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A Woman in Love (It's Not Me) song meanings
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10 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment
    This is one of what I call TP's 'songs about blokes who are no good at relationships' and it's probably the best example because it's so subtle. Yes, it's from the point of view of a man who's been dumped, but in what he says there are clues about what the realationship was really like. For a start he quotes her as saying "don't try to save me". I've known quite a few men who deliberately seek out women who are struggling in some way in their lives, so that they can come across as the knight in shining armour rescuing the damsel. Often these relationships become very controlling and I think the woman here is saying: leave me alone, I want to make my own choices. But the man doesn't pick this up, of course, because he hasn't realised how his actions seem to her. Even more significant I feel is his description of how she used to behave - "she let the little things go". In other words, she's been used to ignoring small misbehaviours on his part...only now things have changed, she's started to assert herself and he doesn't feel comfortable with this. So from her point of view (which he, of course, doesn't understand) the new man she's found is someone she'll be able to form a more open and honest relationship with. Her ex has given her "everything" that *he* thought she wanted. But that wasn't what she wanted at all. Brilliant song - well done TP!
    treefrogdemonon September 17, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    It's a post-breakup song. She threw him away and he doesn't know why, so he's anticipating the day that her new love will do the same to her. Then she'll know how it feels. Hmm - I hope Tom and this woman talked things over since this song was written.
    stoolhardyon January 13, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    she left him for another guy who doesn't treat her right, but she refuses to see it because she's so caught up in everything....he doesnt understand why she did it
    shed27on February 21, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    lovely song. Petty is really a fabulous rocker. Some like to write TPATH off for not being as innovative as some of the other big names in rock, but they elevated popular rock, imo. Hard Promises, Full Moon Fever, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Damn The Torpedoes Those 4 albums are pure rock. They will never get old.
    ejownz6on October 31, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    No idea why this doesn't get the same airplay as Breakdown or American Girl. Great song!
    kickstart71on December 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    sometimes less airlplay is a good thing; songs don't tire themselves out. I think this song sounds like a quintessential American song, especially the guitar lick.
    Flyersfanon May 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    Lyric Correction
    Typo in the title: it's A Woman In Love
    treefrogdemonon September 14, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    This song always held a special place in my heart. My perspective is he always knew he wasn't the one but he loved her anyway, as in the same way she loved another. She lost the love of her life long ago. She can't let go. No one can save her from the pain she can't see...she doesn't want to know. She was always going to be lonley no matter what he gave her, including his love. She's a woman in love. RIP TP. YOU WILL BE MISSED IMMENSELY
    kelly11591on October 03, 2017   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Normally I don't like songs about someone whining/complaining because their love interest/"crush" wants to be with someone else. Nobody owes you a relationship. However, I think this song is better than most of those. The woman laughed at him and told him goodbye. He accepts that she made her choice, and he can't do anything about it.
    RoseLilacon April 10, 2023   Link
  • -2
    General Comment
    She laughed in my face, told me good-bye Said "Don't think about it, you can go crazy Anything can happen, anything can end Don't try to fight it, don't try to save me" Acid trip maybe? "don't try to fight it" hmmmm dunno
    youtubeJamesSkelleysearchon May 24, 2010   Link

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