Lesson Learned

God i love this song! The first time I heard it this song was live at a gig and I was totally blown away by the emotion he put into it and the story he was telling with the lyrics. I was in the 3rd row from the front and could see every facial expression he was making as he sang. Listening to it live afterwards just isn't the same, but it is still my favourite Ray song.

I also think v8juice is almost spot on, and here's why:

"Well the truth it fell so heavy Like a hammer through the room That I could choose another over her"

When the truth came out (that he's was seeing someone else) she acted as it if was a big shock to her.

"You always said I was an actor, baby Guess in truth you thought me just amateur"

She may have used to accuse him of cheating and of covering it up, hence the actor remark, and now the truth has emerged he can't be a very good actor, so he's just an amateur.

"That you never saw the signs That you never lost your grip Oh, come on now That's such a childish claim"

Their relationship was flawed and she is also partially to blame for the breakup. She knew that things weren't working out and to think that it is all one-sided and that everything was perfect is the "childish claim".

"Now I wear the brand of traitor Don't it seem a bit absurd When it's clear I was so obviously framed When it's clear I was so obviously framed"

He finds it absurd that she is blaming him completely when she was also in the relationship and also shares responsibility for it not working out. As in the previous lines she is being childish in thinking that everything was fine whereas she knew deep down that it wasn't going to work out. He is being accused of being solely responsible for breaking them up (being the traitor) and this isn't true since their relationship was in trouble anyway - hence being framed.

"Now you act so surprised To hear what you already know And all you really had to do was ask I'd have told you straight away All those lies were truth And all that was false was fact"

Again she knew that things weren’t working out and she may have accused him previously of cheating. All the lies he told to keep the relationship going were actually true — e.g. "no I’m not having cheating" becomes "yes I was cheating". So he stayed in the relationship when he knew he should have broken up with her, and not waited until he started seeing someone else. But if she had asked him outright if they had a future together, he would have told her the truth. So basically it's easier for him to break up with her by seeing someone else than by talking about their relationship and his emotions.

"Now you hold me close and hard But I was like a statue at most Refusing to acknowledge you'd been hurt Now you're clawing at my throat And you're crying all is lost But your tears they felt so hot upon my shirt But your tears they felt so hot upon my shirt"

He can't share his feelings or emotions with her and acts like a statue when she is hugging him and looking for comfort. Also since she already knew that the relationship was in trouble he doesn't think she has been hurt as much as she is claiming. All he feels now are her hot tears on his shirt.

"Was it you who told me once Now looking back it seems surreal That all our mistakes are merely grist for the mill"

She once said that you we get something from any mistake we make, so why is this situation any different? He finds this odd that she should say one thing and then act another way.

"So why is it now after I had my fill That you steal from me the sorrow that I've earned"

He also feels sorrow at the ending of the relationship, and has had his "fill" of all the bad aspects within the relationship, but she is not acknowledging that he feels this way, so is "stealing" it from him. Basically she is acting a martyr and saying it’s all his fault and how dare he be sad too.

Shall we call this a lesson learned? Shall we call this a lesson learned?

Let’s admit our mistakes, learn from them and move on.