This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Baby don't believe it
Baby don't believe it
Oh, it's in your eyes
I can see the weakness
You don't have to hide
I can take you under
Under my wing
Cause your voice gives me a song
That I love to sing
Baby, they build you up
Only to tear you down
Don't give up
Baby don't believe it
Baby don't believe it
Baby, they build you up
Only to tear you down
Baby don't believe it
Baby don't believe it
Oh, it's good for nothing
You were just a child
Ready to explore
And everything you saw
Looked like an open door
A place you can remember
You'd love to go back
But you can't even comprehend
That it's all in the past
Baby they build you up
Only to tear you down
Baby don't believe it
Baby don't believe it
Oh, it's good for nothing
Baby they build you up
Only to tear you down
Baby don't believe it
Baby don't believe it
Oh, it's good for nothing
Put your heart in my hands
And I won't hurt you
Put your heart in my hands
I promise not to
Put your heart in my hands
I'll lift you up, you'll fly away
Fly way, lift you up
I'll never build you up
Only to tear you down
Don't give up
Baby don't believe it
Oh, it's good for nothing
I'll never build you up
Only to tear you down
Baby don't believe it
Baby don't believe it
Oh, it's good for nothing
I'll never build you up
Only to tear you down
Baby just believe it
Baby just believe it
Oh, it's good for something
I'll never build you up
Only to tear you down
Oh, it's good for nothing
I love you the way you are
Baby don't believe it
Oh, it's in your eyes
I can see the weakness
You don't have to hide
I can take you under
Under my wing
Cause your voice gives me a song
That I love to sing
Baby, they build you up
Only to tear you down
Don't give up
Baby don't believe it
Baby don't believe it
Baby, they build you up
Only to tear you down
Baby don't believe it
Baby don't believe it
Oh, it's good for nothing
You were just a child
Ready to explore
And everything you saw
Looked like an open door
A place you can remember
You'd love to go back
But you can't even comprehend
That it's all in the past
Baby they build you up
Only to tear you down
Baby don't believe it
Baby don't believe it
Oh, it's good for nothing
Baby they build you up
Only to tear you down
Baby don't believe it
Baby don't believe it
Oh, it's good for nothing
Put your heart in my hands
And I won't hurt you
Put your heart in my hands
I promise not to
Put your heart in my hands
I'll lift you up, you'll fly away
Fly way, lift you up
I'll never build you up
Only to tear you down
Don't give up
Baby don't believe it
Oh, it's good for nothing
I'll never build you up
Only to tear you down
Baby don't believe it
Baby don't believe it
Oh, it's good for nothing
I'll never build you up
Only to tear you down
Baby just believe it
Baby just believe it
Oh, it's good for something
I'll never build you up
Only to tear you down
Oh, it's good for nothing
I love you the way you are
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More Featured Meanings
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
This song is so sad. It's definitely about someone who has trouble getting away from the past... and Nelly wants to help him.. the world is tough. nice one NF. =P
it deals with a person who has been hurt in the past and is looking back to previous times, still wanting to return to what they had before and not understanding that it was destorying them. the person's lover wants him/her to understand that he/she is truly in love and won't do what previous people had done before.
Definitely about a person trying to help someone who has trouble with letting go of his/her past.
The sounds on the background remind me of waves breaking on the beach. Indicating the song/conversation takes place on a wide open space, somewhere where noone can hide and must face the truth.
I don't know if I'd go as far as saying it's a lover she's singing to, maybe a childhood friend? That would explain the second verse.. It's a really chilling song, and I think she's trying to release this person's demons in a somewhat nurturing way.. But she gains inspiration from this person as well, as per the line 'cause your voice gives me a song that I love to sing'. Such a beautiful song.