Disappointment, oh
You shouldn't have done, you couldn't have done
You wouldn't have done the things you did then
And we could've been happy
What a piteous thing, a hideous thing
Was tainted by the rest

But it won't get any harder
And I hope you'll find your way again
And it won't get any higher
And it all boils down to what you did there
There
There
There
There
There
There
There

In the night we fight, I fled you're right
It was exactly there
It was exactly there
I decided, decided, decided, decide
Ah-ah-ah-ah
We threw you out
In the night we fight
I fled you're right
It was exactly there
It was exactly there
I decided, decided, decided, decided

But it won't be any harder
And I hope you'll find your way again
And it won't get any higher
But it all boils down to what you did there
There
There
There
There
There
There
There

Disappointment
Disappointment
Disappointment

Disappointment
Disappointment
Disappointment

There
There
There
There

Disappointment
Disappointment
Disappointment

Disappointment
Disappointment
Disappointment


Lyrics submitted by Novartza

Disappointment Lyrics as written by Dolores Mary O'riordan Noel Anthony Hogan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Disappointment song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    Hm, I always thought "the things you did there" was like saying he cheated and betrayed her and had a romance with someone else ("there" being the other girl's flat or any other place they met). But anyway, the song in general is about a broken realtionship, no doubt about this.

    MuminPLon August 11, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    unsatisfying sex? give me a break! it's not like everything is about sex!

    i love this song

    crow_hearton April 02, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think its about deciding to end a relationship and although its disappointing she has to because "of what you did there" probly him cheating or something

    coolercanson April 20, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yeah, first to comment whoo hoo...

    Bad relationship finally ended and she's just disappointed that it went on so long or that it ended the way it did

    sixedhearton June 03, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yeah, i agree with you, i wonder where "there" is...

    lovelyritalucyon June 05, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Maybe 'there' is the point in the relationship when she realised that it was no use and she had to leave

    *baby_girl*on July 25, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It sounds a lot like unsatisfying sex...just think about it... But really,the song is about making clear decisions or something.That's what it said in the NNTA booklet thingy.

    Mmhmm_rkon August 20, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i agree with everyone else.(cept for the sex part, give it a rest and stop being so narrowminded) do you think this may have something to do with the 'delilah' incident that that song is about? just a thought, but i don't know which came first

    birdsflyon February 28, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Actually, the word is not "there", it is "then". "...it all boils down to what you did then"

    dinzao9on November 09, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion

    Its hard to say what the Cranberries had in mind specifically when they used the words they did. The lyrics could be about finding out a flask of coffee went cold in the night, as far as they're concerned. The music is spectacular, though.

    But for the past twenty years, this song for me has outlined the way certain (good) people will believe a relationship exists far past the capacity for it to exist, or grow, and when they finally reach that point of seeing it clearly, they feel deep disappointment that they lied to themselves for so long.

    The lies of the other person pale by comparison, it's the realising you've been simple, naieve, or "unsophisticated" that hurts. I think the lines that talk about "I lied, you're right" and "I hope you find your way again", is the good-natured person admitting that what she did was as big a "lie" as the person who played along, and she is taking more blame for the situation than is right (because of her personality type), which adds to and entrenches the sense of disappointment in the way life is.

    It's unclear which lines are accusations, and which are painful moments of self-awareness, because both fit and are interchangeable, and I think it's meant to be that way. Not only does she wish her partner the best, but she hopes that she'll find her way again, back to the person she naturally was, after all the disappointment.

    xby45on June 07, 2015   Link

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