We had broken up for good just an hour before
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
Now I'm staring at the bodies as there's dancin' 'cross the floor
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
And then the band slowed the tempo and the music gets me down
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
It was the same old song with the melancholy sound
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh

They don't write 'em like that anymore
They just don't write 'em like that anymore

We'd been living together for a million years
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
But now it feel so strange (out in the atmospheres?)
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
And then the jukebox plays a song I used to know
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
Now I'm staring at the bodies as they dancin' so slow
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh

They don't write 'em like that anymore
They just don't write 'em like that anymore

Now I wind up staring at an empty glass
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh
Cause its so easy to say that you'll forget your past
Uh uh uh, uh uh uh uh uh

They don't write 'em like that anymore, no!
They just don't write 'em like that anymore

They don't write 'em like that anymore
They just don't write 'em like that anymore


Lyrics submitted by taffurs888

The Break-Up Song (They Don't Write 'em) Lyrics as written by Gregory Kihn Gary Phillips

Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.

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The Break-up song (they don't write em') song meanings
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9 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    Man, he's right. They don't write 'em like this anymore. LOL.

    cubbyblueson March 31, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    "They don't write 'em like that anymore"-Hi,they don't do anything like "that" anymore!!!

    Thia007on November 30, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Great song, incredibly underrated. Better than Jeopardy in my opinion.

    eaglebyrneson October 28, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Great song......kind of a forgotten 80's jam. Last verse is key, love the drums.

    taffurs888on October 24, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is incredible for an early 80s tune. I vote this as our new national anthem for the broken.

    ilikestuffandyouon February 24, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    does this sound like a Tom Petty song to anyone elses? I always thought it was when I heard it on the radio. good song anyway.

    Stone Freeon March 24, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    by the way, that should be "anyone ELSE", not "elses". I'm not an idiot, I swear.

    Stone Freeon March 24, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Always heard this song is about a band breaking up... not lovers breaking up. Puts a different spin on it.

    fishstickson January 13, 2009   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    This song was written to make fun of all the crappy break up songs that were (and still are) coming out.

    kfe2on January 29, 2006   Link

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