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A Woman in Love (It's Not Me) Lyrics

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"

Chorus
She's a woman in love
And he's gonna break her heart to pieces
She don't wanna 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 problem
She let the little things go

Chorus
She's a woman in love
And he's gonna break her heart to pieces
But she don't wanna 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
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Cover art for A Woman in Love (It's Not Me) lyrics by Tom Petty

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!

Cover art for A Woman in Love (It's Not Me) lyrics by Tom Petty

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.

Cover art for A Woman in Love (It's Not Me) lyrics by Tom Petty

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

Cover art for A Woman in Love (It's Not Me) lyrics by Tom Petty

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.

Cover art for A Woman in Love (It's Not Me) lyrics by Tom Petty

No idea why this doesn't get the same airplay as Breakdown or American Girl. Great song!

Cover art for A Woman in Love (It's Not Me) lyrics by Tom Petty

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.

@Flyersfan Are you from Philly? I remember WMMR used to beat the hell out of AWIL(BINM) this song when it was the “follow-up” to The Waiting.

Cover art for A Woman in Love (It's Not Me) lyrics by Tom Petty

Typo in the title: it's A Woman In Love

Lyric Correction
Cover art for A Woman in Love (It's Not Me) lyrics by Tom Petty

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

Cover art for A Woman in Love (It's Not Me) lyrics by Tom Petty

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.

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

@youtubeJamesSkelleysearch Perhaps, I know Tom's been no stranger to drugs, even nowadays.

But I think this is more about the woman saying not to fight her leaving him, because 'Anything can happen, anything can end.' I also think the woman has gone to an abusive relationship, and she is also saying 'Don't fight this, don't try to rescue me, I don't need saving.' because she doesn't want to see it for the abusive relationship it is.

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