Please Pardon Yourself

Not a fan of the genre, but I like the artist. Looking at each stanza, to me the song is about a woman awakening and something apparently negative happened the previous night. The man with her wishes to know what's on her mind concerning the event. He's going to be supportive and wants her to forgive herself. She's been running (emotionally) from something and it's repeatitive behavior. She apparently has behaved in ways that she doesn't feel represent who she really is. She wonders why he continues to trust her; support her; and love her, and she worries that someday it will all stop and he will no longer be there. She apparently has a drinking problem, which may have something to do with her actions the previous night (and on other nights). She wants to love him forever. He wants her to try to release the news (events) of the previous night. He wants to forgive and forget apparently. "The day will come, the sun will rise, and we'lll be fine." He's telling her to release the negative feelings and see each new day as a brand new start. (But what do I know. I just took my best shot:)

I heard -

"As I turn my head to your side of the bed While you weigh what's on your mind"

I love how in the morning, the events and feelings of last night seem okay.

Pretty sure it's:

"As I turn my head to your side of the bed Why are you awake? What's on your mind?"

I think this song is about the miscarriage of a child. The chorus of the song refers to bad news that she received, however he is involved in the news because he talks about one day them both recovering from the bad news. The woman in question obviously feels guilt and loss: "Why are you awake/What's on your mind/To this awful news/Try not to hold on." The singer doesn't seem to blame her because he's more concerned with taking care of her ("As long as I feel/As strong as I feel/I will carry you/As long as I can") and making sure she doesn't blame herself ("As hard on yourself/Please pardon yourself/Do the best you can/And that won't go unseen"). It gets more complicated when he begins to say things that sound like he's not sure he can take care of her or be in a relationship with her forever. He says "As long as I feel" and this refers to him feeling numb because of the loss of his child as well. Though like many men he cares more for his relationship with his wife/girl than the child that he never met ("And there's only so many years I'm gonna give my love to you/And I spent the last one hidden away, screaming my lungs out/With nothing to say"). He is unsure how important having a family with her is to him: "How do I know/When it's time to stop/Running from the things I do/And being things I'm not." Though he wants to be with her and to have a child, his concern is more for her. He cares more for her love than the creation of a child ("Well there's only so many ways you can give your lovin' to me/I'd give my soul for just one of them now ...") , but she is so concerned with having a baby that she doesn't take care of him like she ought.

'How do I know That you will never stop Knowing me and trusting me And loving me a lot"

Some of the most honest and simple lyrics I've ever heard in a song. This entire song seems to circle around forgiveness and one expression of one's feelings. It's a kick ass song.