Bleeding Heart

I love this new song. Sometimes Regina sounds like a psychologist picking out a very idiosyncratic individual and that's why her songs can be so relatable and yet not quite at the same time. Like Poor Little Rich Boy.

But yeah I think this song is about someone who has overcome a lot or at least like to think they have and have a tendency to feel sorry for themselves and impose it on others - like in the second verse "you've won the war but it's not your turn" like their need to dispense advice and have other people's admiration for their achievements through tough times is a bit narcissistic rather than genuinely trying to help and I think it's basically saying get over it and carry on with your life and stop congratulating yourself on overcoming your hardship.

Not sure if that makes sense but it's my interpretation

I see this as being totally autobiographical (the video confirms this, featuring old pics from Regina's childhood). She's in a bar reminiscing about the 'story' of her childhood- the 2nd person she refers to throughout the song is herself, either past or current. She begins as a loner throughout grade school, as an oddball/foreigner/introvert. She doesn't fit in, and discusses the pain of going through much of life fearful and regretful of social interactions.

I perceive the chorus "never mind your bleeding heart" as a reminder of the constant repeated message from the 'normal' world that she should act fine and not worry about her anxiety, whilst ignoring the deeper problems. Our culture is catered to extroverts, and rarely deals with the issues of loneliness or depression; for example Disney movies are mostly happy and bright- positivity is everything, put a smile on even if you don't mean it. The chorus taunts herself, and she is repeating the refrain to herself, because all she knows how to do is shut down those emotions and bury them inside.

The 3rd verse appears to suggest that now that she's grown up she's overcome the pain/shortcomings from her past, and she pity's someone she sees in a situation like she used to be. But the last line shows how she never really fixed any of her former problems, "Cause you won the war so it's not your turn / But everything inside still burns." In reality, that pain from her past manifests itself in her current life.

The outro shows how she has channeled the pain through patience, effort, and dreaming; she has used her former shortcomings to become a hugely successful musician/poet. Yet each line suggests the pain she still goes through as part of this process, with constant doubts and sadness. She is trying to use the art form to fix her bleeding heart, but the pain subsists. So with the final line she reiterates that she'll keep ignoring it.

"How long must I wait till you learn that it's not too late How long must I cry till you know that you really tried How long must I try till you learn that dreaming's hard How long must I dream till you heal your bleeding heart Never mind your bleeding heart"

This also suggests the dilemma that maybe it's best to forget about her bleeding heart. Or maybe it's just that she's come to terms with it in the end, and as she's used it to create something good while overcoming the major challenges she faced as a child (that is more optimistic, but I think it's a stretch to say that that's reflected in the lyrics).

So that's a really depressing take, and I think the song sounds so bright and happy as a jarring irony representing the bitter-sweet reality of the fake happiness that results in constantly pushing down your painful emotions.

I see this song to be about telling someone (or knowing you need) to get over the past.

Unlike the above post, I see the "not your turn" line to reflect that bad thing is happening to someone else even though it resonates with you.

The opening line about drinking, I can't work out.

"How long must I wait till you learn that it's not too late How long must I cry till you know that you really tried How long must I try till you learn that dreaming's hard How long must I dream till you heal your bleeding heart Never mind your bleeding heart"

I absolutely see this as Regina's inner child/past child self talking to older Regina. Asking and giving her permission to heal from her past hurt. Helps to see all the pictures of her as a child in the music video. The child is telling her you tried your best, it was okay to dream, and it's not too late to begin connecting and healing with our inner child.