Ah, loving you is easy, you are on my side
We play the game strictly to our rules
We led the field, a love affair
Which made all other lovers fools

Oh
How can you ever let me down? (how)
How can you ever let me down? (how)
How can you ever let me down?
These promises are made for us (oh-oh)

We promised that we'd always have time for each other
Whenever I needed you'd be there
We promised to be true, there'd be no other
We promised that for ever we would care

Oh
How can you ever let me down? (how)
How can you ever let me down? (how)
How can you ever let me down?
These promises are made for us (oh-oh)

We had to change
Oh, but you stayed the same
You wouldn't change
Oh, what a shame

'Cause loving you's not easy, you're not on my side
We play a game with two sets of rules
We lead the field in a love affair
Ah, strictly meant for fools

Oh
Why did you ever let me down? (now)
Why did you ever let me down? (now)
Why did you ever let me down?
Those promises were made for us (oh-oh)

You never have any time for me
Whenever I need you, you're not there
You've never been true and it's plain to see
The fact is you never really cared

Oh
Why did you ever let me down? (now)
Why did you ever let me down? (now)
Why did you ever let me down?
Those promises we made for us (oh-oh)


Lyrics submitted by rimzilwave

Promises Lyrics as written by Pete Shelley Steve Diggle

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Promises song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

4 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    i dont understand why there arent more buzzcocks fans on this site.

    noisetothetapeon December 26, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Makes you wonder why there aren't more buzzcocks fans anywhere. Then again, sometimes it makes it more special that way.

    unknownevilon January 23, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    quaaaaaaaaaaality.

    sugaroton January 15, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Great love gone bad song.

    TonyInPortlandon August 17, 2015   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
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him. There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Album art
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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.