The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Remember all the things we wanted
Now all our memories, they're haunted
We were always meant to say goodbye
Even with our fists held high
It never would have worked out right, yeah
We were never meant for do or die
I didn't want us to burn out
I didn't come here to hurt you now
I can't stop
I want you to know
That it doesn't matter
Where we take this road
Someone's gotta go
And I want you to know
You couldn't have loved me better
But I want you to move on
So I'm already gone
Looking at you makes it harder
But I know that you'll find another
That doesn't always make you wanna cry
Started with a perfect kiss
Then we could feel the poison set in
Perfect couldn't keep this love alive
You know that I love you so
I love you enough to let you go
I want you to know
That it doesn't matter
Where we take this road
Someone's gotta go
And I want you to know
You couldn't have loved me better
But I want you to move on
So I'm already gone
I'm already gone
Already gone
You can't make it feel right
When you know that it's wrong
I'm already gone
Already gone
There's no moving on
So I'm already gone
Already gone
Already gone
Ooh, oh
Already gone
Already gone
Already gone, yeah
Remember all the things we wanted
Now all our memories, they're haunted
We were always meant to say goodbye
I want you to know
That it doesn't matter
Where we take this road
Someone's gotta go
And I want you to know
You couldn't have loved me better
But I want you to move on
So I'm already gone
I'm already gone
Already gone
You can't make it feel right
When you know that it's wrong
I'm already gone
Already gone
There's no moving on
So I'm already gone
Now all our memories, they're haunted
We were always meant to say goodbye
Even with our fists held high
It never would have worked out right, yeah
We were never meant for do or die
I didn't want us to burn out
I didn't come here to hurt you now
I can't stop
I want you to know
That it doesn't matter
Where we take this road
Someone's gotta go
And I want you to know
You couldn't have loved me better
But I want you to move on
So I'm already gone
Looking at you makes it harder
But I know that you'll find another
That doesn't always make you wanna cry
Started with a perfect kiss
Then we could feel the poison set in
Perfect couldn't keep this love alive
You know that I love you so
I love you enough to let you go
I want you to know
That it doesn't matter
Where we take this road
Someone's gotta go
And I want you to know
You couldn't have loved me better
But I want you to move on
So I'm already gone
I'm already gone
Already gone
You can't make it feel right
When you know that it's wrong
I'm already gone
Already gone
There's no moving on
So I'm already gone
Already gone
Already gone
Ooh, oh
Already gone
Already gone
Already gone, yeah
Remember all the things we wanted
Now all our memories, they're haunted
We were always meant to say goodbye
I want you to know
That it doesn't matter
Where we take this road
Someone's gotta go
And I want you to know
You couldn't have loved me better
But I want you to move on
So I'm already gone
I'm already gone
Already gone
You can't make it feel right
When you know that it's wrong
I'm already gone
Already gone
There's no moving on
So I'm already gone
Lyrics submitted by dontwasteyoursong
Already Gone Lyrics as written by Ryan Tedder Kelly Clarkson
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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A pretty simple song with a simple meaning but the writing is still amazing on this. The two in the relationship knew the relationship would never work out so with that said, Kelly is saying she has to leave in order for this guy to actually be happy, which is what she wants..She knows she can't make him happy so she's "already gone".
To me this song is screaming the meaning. Basically the song tells a story about two people in a relationship that knew that it was coming to an end. But while they are ending the girl or whoever is saying that just because it's time to part ways, doesn't mean you didn't gave me the best you could. That I love you enough to let you go find someone better for you than me.
To me, I kind of relate this song to my life. The girl does love her boyfriend, and the relationship is "perfect" but there's just not that fire that she always wanted. No matter what the guy does, it won't change the fact that in the end, it won't work out. The realtionship truly "burnt out," although the guy did everything he could. The girl must end the relationship, in hopes that her boyfriend can find someone who he can truly be happy with.
My take on this song is very different to the comments so far.
However from the first time I heard it I already developed a visual, I believe it is about a a person who is sick and dying and has come to terms with it.
It's like even though you love someone so dearly, that fact that you can never grow old together, you want your partner to eventually move on, you want to know that after your passing they will be alright. 'But I want you to move on'
However you know your partner won't want to move on, they'll stick with you till death and then be deeply sadden. Yet you want to reassure them, 'And I want you to know, You couldn't have loved me better', however you never tell of them that your dying because a loved one loss to death is much harder then a loved one loss to a breakup.
Resulting in with you ending the relationship before your death. 'So I'm already gone'
It's hard and painful for the person dying but they feel this is the last of what they can do when they cannot be cured. 'Looking at you makes it harder. But I know that you'll find another'
You do this because you know it'll eventually it'll be over, no matter what anyone tries. 'I want you to know that it doesn't matter. Where we take this road. Someone's gotta go', and that someone is you.
This is just how I feel about the song, it does remind me of a personal situation. Although it maybe a stretch, I guess it can be a song that relates to a situation like this.
That's a very interesting interpretation of the song, and I can definitely see what you are saying... it would be very hard being in a situation where you know that your time is almost up, and knowing that the one person that has been there with you through it all is having a hard time coming to terms with it and resisting getting to that point where he/she will have to let go. So you see yourself pushing them away, even when you don't really want to do so, but knowing that you are doing it for their own good eventually.<br /> <br /> I like thinking about all the possible interpretations of a song, and this one never really crossed my mind until you mentioned it.
i agree that that could be a meaning for the song. however, i disagree with "because a loved one loss to death is much harder then a loved one loss to a breakup". I personally think it is much harder to lose someone to a break up because they chose to leave, the rejection of it all makes it more difficult than if they died because then they are taken from you and you couldn't have changed anything, when they break up with you you always think "what could i have done differently, if i didn't do that he wouldn't have broken up with me. etc"... but maybe that is just me. interesting thinking though, i didn't think about it as a breakup because of sickness.
@stephiiy I agree - that's how I thought of it, as the "Sleeping at Last" version came on, when I was on my way home this evening. @tonis It isn't easier to lose someone to death. They don't always choose to leave, either. I lost my mother two months ago, and not only am I missing her terribly, but my father is completely lost without her. They were divorced for a while, in the past, and remarried. He thought that he'd deal with this the same way, but he said that it's so much different - so much worse - because she isn't here, anymore.
Oh wow to think this song came out in 2009. I'm deeply sorry about situation with your mother @anela. You are also right, dealing with death is so much more painful then a break up because the difference is hope. When someone is still there you are always left with the opportunity to see their face one more time. I think anyone who has dealt with death would agree, even if you don't have the chance to be in a relationship with them, you would give anything to see them one more time. It's about hope, and you lose that with death. You don't with a break up @tonis.
From the since time I've heard this song I get a very strong "halo" vibe from it. You know the Beyonce song. It's probably just because the back beats are so similar. Does anyone else here it or am I just crazy. Just listen to the intro of both song they're very similar
OMG i was listening the song just now before i came on here and i was thinking the EXACT SAME THING! lmfao! wen the song started, 'remember those walls i built, baby they're tumbling down' played in my head lmfao. hmmm buzzy buzzy!
I think that is because ryan tedder produced both tracks and he did the backing vocals on the chorus as well, that is why the vibes are the same.<br /> <br /> Still i love halo and i love this song too<br /> "we were never meant for do or die"<br /> i love that line and also i think she is probably dying and telling him to go before she dies
it deoes kind of sound like halo! weird, i never really noticed this, and both songs are on my playlist!
You're definitely NOT crazy :] Kelly Clarkson noticed the similarity too lol. Here's a link to the whole story about it in case you want to find out about it. :D<br /> mtv.com/news/articles/1617011/20090727/clarkson_kelly.jhtml<br /> xThreeCheersForFiveYears
Yeah deffo! always think its Halo coming on the radio and Already gone lyrics start playing lol. both amazing songs though!:)
yep... I thought so too.
One of the a capella singing groups at my school did a mash-up of Already Gone and Halo - it was INCREDIBLE.
u r soo right i realize that now!!
The songs are similar because they were written AND produced by the same person, Ryan Tedder. He did Already Gone with/for Kelly Clarkson and I'm guessing that Beyonce liked the song so when Halo was penned by Tedder and an additional person, the coming about of Halo is an interesting story to say the least, it probably came out similar because the other person was contacted and Beyonce wanted a song so Halo is what came out of it. I'm sorry if this is a tad bit confusing, a lot of things play into the similarities, but the primary reason is that it was written and produced by the same person.
the couple have already broken up. the singer ended the relationship FOR the other person. but in hindsight, the singer sounds like she has doubts. to bury the sad feelings, the singer is rationalizing that "it was never meant to be". she's not trying to convince the other person, she's trying to convince herself. she has regrets!
i hope this becomes a single. i'd like to see the video for it.
It means she had to be the one strong enough to end the relationship, even though part of her still loved him. She could see that the relationship was going to go really bad, and she cared enough for him to let him go so that he could be happy.
you can totally tell she penned this song with Ryan Tedder. Sounds very OneRepublic-esque. Heart.
This song sounds like she loves him, and he loves her. But they know that they'd never last in the long run. She's willing to go so he can find the one. She's not doing it to hurt him, she just wants to do what's best for him. And looking at him makes it hard, because she still loves him. But she wants him to find someone who will make him happy.
EH idk that's just my point of view.
X threecheersforfiveyears
woow. this song is amazing. it really describes how i feel right now. i dated this guy a year ago. and then two months ago we began dating again and everything he does for me is perfect and he's amazing to me. but.. things always happen that neither of us cause and it always leaves him unhappy so I ended it for his sake, even though i still have feelings for him. i wish he could listen to this, and understand how i feel. anyways, beautiful song.