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Breaking It Up Lyrics

f you're going abroad I can't help you
If you're crossing the street I might be there

If you give it a minute it's gone
If you give it a minute it's wrong
If we're just waiting a second too long
Darling I'll leave and you won't come along

So give me the reason to stay
Give me the reason to wait
You know I don't look to get caught
'Cause darling we're here but my true love is not

I'm breaking it up, before it's on
Breaking it up, it's already gone
Breaking it up, I didn't mean to fraud
Breaking it up

If you're going abroad I can't help you
If you're crossing the street I might be there

And I call you baby I will and I do
Persuade you in though I know that we're through
I let you think that I'm yours when I'm not
Keep you here though I'm ready to drop the last line

I'm breaking it up, before it's on
Breaking it up, it's already gone
Breaking it up, I didn't mean to fraud
Breaking it up

If you're going abroad I can't help you
If you're crossing the street I might be there

Breaking it up
Breaking it up
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17 Meanings

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Cover art for Breaking It Up lyrics by Lykke Li

To me this song is sort of a contrast to all those stereotypical songs about feeling unloved or wanting love from someone. It shows how cold and melancholy it is to be on the otherside, to be in a relationship but know you don't feel anything for the partner and are just waiting for the right time to end it.

By saying that she can't help if they're 'going abroad' shows that she doesn't want to commit. But she'll carry on pretending to seemingly prolong the hurt she'll cause, 'ill call you baby i will and i do'.

Cover art for Breaking It Up lyrics by Lykke Li

i love this song. i get a ton of different meanings from this song. @ first i thought it sounded like she was having an affair with someone " we're here but my true love is not" and shes not looking to get caught.

the other meaning i got from this is that shes in a relationship but hasn't gotten emotionally in the relationship & is breaking it off because this guy is not her true love he's somewhere out there. but this guy thinks that she is his, but in fact she knows he is not the one for her so shes "breaking it up"

Cover art for Breaking It Up lyrics by Lykke Li

f you're going abroad I can't help you // if you are going to distance yourself, I can't make you change your mind If you're crossing the street I might be there // if you are going to be here, that's where I'll be...maybe

If you give it a minute it's gone // if you can't decide if you want this If you give it a minute it's wrong // if you're trying to find reasons to end it by nitpicking If we're just waiting a second too long // if you don't tell me right away and let the issue get out of hand Darling I'll leave and you won't come along // The relationship won't work

So give me the reason to stay //give me the reason to be there Give me the reason to wait //give me the reason to give you a chance You know I don't look to get caught //why won't you trust me, I wasn't trying to deceive you 'Cause darling we're here but my true love is not //we're here, but i'm half-way out the door, can't allow myself to fall

I'm breaking it up, before it's on // don't want to get hurt, breaking up before it's even started Breaking it up, it's already gone //breaking up because you don't trust me, it's already over Breaking it up, I didn't mean to fraud //breaking up, I didn't mean to lie/withhold facts/deceive Breaking it up //breaking up with you

If you're going abroad I can't help you //if you're going to distance yourself, i'm not going to run after you If you're crossing the street I might be there //if you are going to be here, i might change my mind to stay...maybe

And I call you baby I will and I do //still not over you yet Persuade you in though I know that we're through //want to be with you, but you don't trust me so it won't work I let you think that I'm yours when I'm not //afraid to let myself fall for you completely, but I'll let you think so Keep you here though I'm ready to drop the last line //can't allow myself to get hurt, ready to run if things go wrong

I'm breaking it up, before it's on //breaking up before I even gave you a chance to prove yourself
Breaking it up, it's already gone //breaking up, because you don't want this Breaking it up, I didn't mean to fraud //breaking up, i'm sorry if I unintentionally mislead you Breaking it up //let's just break up

If you're going abroad I can't help you //if you're not going to be here for me, goodbye If you're crossing the street I might be there //if you are going to be here, maybe i'll reconsider...maybe

Breaking it up //breaking up Breaking it up //because things aren't getting any easier

My Interpretation
Cover art for Breaking It Up lyrics by Lykke Li

this is my favorite song by her & my interpretation of the song is about girl who is waiting for a guy, but shes saying she wont wait "If you give it a minute it's wrong If you give it a minute it's gone If we're just waiting a second too long Darling I'll leave and you won't come along" especialy when she says "So give me the reason to stay Give me the reason to wait" i think it proves even more that the guy is being to slow to make his move on her, and shes asking him, wondering if she should even bother waiting any longer. so in order for her not to get hurt anymore she just breaks it off.

i have no idea lol. im probably compleltey wrong, but a situation like this has happened to me recently and this song exactly fits how i felt. and what i ended up doing :)

Cover art for Breaking It Up lyrics by Lykke Li

I think it's about being in a relationship for the sake of it where you don't feel the same way about the person and realising it's better to be alone than with someone you're not that bothered about. I can see the waiting for someone and deciding not to so any more theory, however the line 'I let you think that I'm yours when I'm not' contradicts that I think.

Cover art for Breaking It Up lyrics by Lykke Li

I just interpret this as her being in a relationship that she's not really serious, even pretending that she's really into the guy, when in reality she's preparing to break it off.

Cover art for Breaking It Up lyrics by Lykke Li

It comes across like the relationship she is in, is on the verge of becoming a long distance type thing.

     If you're going abroad I can't help you
     If you're crossing the street I might be there

Despite her wanting to continue on with the relationship, she knows deep down that even if this a person she wants to be with and fall in love with, it will eventually lead to a break up. She isn't letting herself fall in love knowing this, but she is compelled to stick with them, maybe desperately hoping that it will all work out. She is preparing for the moment that when it turns south, she will be the one dropping the last like and breaking it up. Very contradicting tones in the music, of wanting to be with someone, and on the other hand, you are preparing for the inevitable end.

My Interpretation
Cover art for Breaking It Up lyrics by Lykke Li

Meh, this song describes every single relationship I've ever been in. I've never really been madly deeply in love, I suppose. Can't believe it takes a song to make you realize that.

Cover art for Breaking It Up lyrics by Lykke Li

Great song! I love like Lykke Li. This song is basically about her being fed up with the mixed signals the douche bag is sending her and stringing her along and she is about to be ready to leave him.

"If you're going abroad I can't help you" meaning if you're going to be far physically and mentally and if you're not going to be there there's nothing she can do to try to make things work

"If you're crossing the street I might be there" means he's literally just right there and it's more workable/doable to be with and if he's willing to be there then it might work.

She pretty much let the relationship linger way too long especially from her expression saying, "If you give it a minute it's wrong, If you give it a minute it's gone, if we're just waiting a second too long. It all means any minute now I'm about to move on if you don't make you're move. She's contemplating and trying to find a reason but she's getting ahead of herself knowing that she's gotta move on bc she's only fooling herself.

"You know I don't like to get caught" she caught herself falling in love with the wrong person and got caught in a sticky situation.. getting caught meaning she got caught in a mess without her realizing it from the beginning but she's trying to find a reason to stay for last hope.

"cause darling we're here but my true love is not" and I didn't mean to fraud" She fooled herself and fell for someone who doesn't even exist, she got caught n still trying to fool herself but she's finding a realizes even before he has a chance to try to proove himself that they will be breaking up.

Cover art for Breaking It Up lyrics by Lykke Li

"If you're going abroad I can't help you If you're crossing the street I might be there"

Definatley not crossing any oceans for you, maybe not even the street. Lol. Love it.

My Interpretation