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That Particular Time Lyrics
my foundation was rocked my tried and true way to deal was to vanish
my departures were old I stood in the room shaking in my boots
at that particular time love had challenged me to stay
at that particular moment I knew not run away again
that particular month I was ready to investigate with you
at that particular time
we thought a break would be good for four months we sat and vacillated
we thought a small time apart would clear up the doubts that were abounding
at that particular time love encouraged me to wait
at that particular moment it helped me to be patient
that particular month we needed time to marinate in what "us" meant
I've always wanted for you what you've wanted for yourself
and yet I wanted to save us high water or hell
and I kept on ignoring the ambivalence you felt
and in the meantime I lost myself
in the meantime I lost myself
I'm sorry I lost myself….i am
you knew you needed more time time spent alone with no distraction
you felt you needed to fly solo and high to define what you wanted
at that particular love encouraged me to leave
at that particular moment I knew staying with you meant deserting me
that particular month was harder than you'd believe but I still left
at that particular time
my departures were old I stood in the room shaking in my boots
at that particular time love had challenged me to stay
at that particular moment I knew not run away again
that particular month I was ready to investigate with you
at that particular time
we thought a small time apart would clear up the doubts that were abounding
at that particular time love encouraged me to wait
at that particular moment it helped me to be patient
that particular month we needed time to marinate in what "us" meant
and yet I wanted to save us high water or hell
and I kept on ignoring the ambivalence you felt
and in the meantime I lost myself
in the meantime I lost myself
I'm sorry I lost myself….i am
you felt you needed to fly solo and high to define what you wanted
at that particular love encouraged me to leave
at that particular moment I knew staying with you meant deserting me
that particular month was harder than you'd believe but I still left
at that particular time
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I think this song is about her being someone who is always running away from things. "My tried and true way was to vanish." She seems to always be calling things off even when she didn't want it to really be over. She was challenged to work on her relationship, but she knew she had to leave it no matter how badly it hurt. It wasn't that he was a bad guy, just that she was losing herself in this relationship and it was getting too unhealthy for him to the point where he didn't know what he wanted. Leaving shattered her heart completely, but she loved herself enough to get her heart back.
I agree - she's showing how she felt at the particular times of the relationship - how at one time it seemed it might be worth saving and fighting for, kind of a challenge, but by the next moment she has seen that it wasn't to be. But the important thing was that she tried. The fear of consequence that is involved in such serious decision making.
Como tantas otras canciones de Alanis, la introspección del personaje principal, sea ella o no, es importantÃsima. Es increÃble como puede meter una historia en una canción y hacerla tan melódica.
This is my favourite Alanis song.
this is such a sad sad sad song. i love the lyric, "at that particular moment i knew staying with you meant deserting me".
It's simply a story of a breakup. They take a little time out 'to marinate in what "us" meant', during which she realises that 'I wanted to save us high water or hell' and this is destroying who she is. Agree with Sopure' that the lyric 'I knew staying with you meant deserting me' is great. It's really sad and I also love the genuine emotion that goes into the third verse.
Love the way her voice breaks at the bridge ("high water or hell"). Brutally honest and one of the best breakup songs, sung looking back on the unfolding tragedy.
wow this is an amazing song, so similar to my situation it's crazy
It's so insane how alanis can capture EXACTLY what I'm feeling and going through. This song is so sad when you're smack dab in the middle of this EXACT situation. Didn't wanna leave in the beginning. At THAT time, I decided to love and stay. Then, I fought and fought to keep it together because of everything invested in it. Now, we are on "a break"...but I'm getting to the point where I think it's time I leave. UGH. This is so hard to listen to but so therapeutic at the same time.