Cause I won't be waking up, my dear
> Time has run its course
> Happy anniversary
> Now I'll say goodbye, my dear
> This will be our last
> Happy anniversary
With a knot in your stomach you almost feel shameful about your previous interpretation as you try to hold back tears.">
Happy Anniversary Meanings & Lyrics Discussion by andrewrk | SongMeanings
Cause I won't be waking up, my dear
> Time has run its course
> Happy anniversary
> Now I'll say goodbye, my dear
> This will be our last
> Happy anniversary
With a knot in your stomach you almost feel shameful about your previous interpretation as you try to hold back tears." />
I'm not sure if it's intentional, but I think part of the power of this song is that at first it can be misconstrued as a breakup song, and then at some point there is a sobering paradigm shift where you realize that it is actually much, much darker than that.
Let me try to walk you through this experience:
Drain me slowly of the will to fight
Glowing yellow in the bedroom light
There is a terror in your eyes tonight
Something awful has you wrapped in white
Take me in your arms and hold me tight
I left out a few lines, but you can see that it is possible to interpret this first stanza as a couple, perhaps married, who are in their bedroom having an argument. And while there is love, the couple has realized that the relationship cannot last.
Cause I won't be here for long, my dear
Settle our accounts
Happy anniversary
Show me how to calm your fears
I'll do what I can
Even after this stanza the interpretation holds. The relationship is ending; one of them is moving out. Ironically, it is happening on or near their anniversary. Again they don't hate each other, but they know it must be done.
I can feel it in my bones tonight
Swallowing whatever's in its sight
Struggling to breathe with all my might
Perhaps the first clue is here. But still, struggling to breathe could be something that happens when you are crying or having an emotional crisis, which is understandable in the situation of a marriage falling apart.
Cause I won't be here to dry your tears
Send the kids my love
Happy anniversary
Promise me you'll laugh, my dear, after I am gone
At this point in the listening experience, your eyes widen a bit and you start thinking "wait a minute..." You start trying to remember the words from the beginning verses but before you can, Justin launches into the final stanza:
Cause I won't be waking up, my dear
Time has run its course
Happy anniversary
Now I'll say goodbye, my dear
This will be our last
Happy anniversary
With a knot in your stomach you almost feel shameful about your previous interpretation as you try to hold back tears.
I'm not sure if it's intentional, but I think part of the power of this song is that at first it can be misconstrued as a breakup song, and then at some point there is a sobering paradigm shift where you realize that it is actually much, much darker than that.
Let me try to walk you through this experience:
I left out a few lines, but you can see that it is possible to interpret this first stanza as a couple, perhaps married, who are in their bedroom having an argument. And while there is love, the couple has realized that the relationship cannot last.
Even after this stanza the interpretation holds. The relationship is ending; one of them is moving out. Ironically, it is happening on or near their anniversary. Again they don't hate each other, but they know it must be done.
Perhaps the first clue is here. But still, struggling to breathe could be something that happens when you are crying or having an emotional crisis, which is understandable in the situation of a marriage falling apart.
At this point in the listening experience, your eyes widen a bit and you start thinking "wait a minute..." You start trying to remember the words from the beginning verses but before you can, Justin launches into the final stanza:
With a knot in your stomach you almost feel shameful about your previous interpretation as you try to hold back tears.