Breaking up slowly is a hard thing to do
I love you only, but it's making me blue
So don't send me flowers like you always do
It's hard to be lonely, but it's the right thing

Are these my good years or do I have none?
Are there really good years for everyone?
I don't wanna live with a life of regret
I don't wanna end up like Tammy Wynette

'Cause breaking up slowly is a hard thing to do
I love you only, but it's making me blue
So don't send me flowers like you always do
It's hard to be lonely, but it's the right thing to do

George got arrested out on the lawn
We might be breaking up after this song
Will he still love me long after I'm gone?
Or did he see it coming all along?

'Cause breaking up slowly is a hard thing to do
I love you only, and it's making me blue
So don't send me flowers like you always do
It's hard to be lonely (baby, breaking up is hard to do)
Breaking up slowly (baby, breaking up is hard to do)
Breaking up slowly is a hard thing to do
I love you only, and it's making me blue
So don't send me flowers like you always do
It's hard to be lonely
But it's the right thing to do

Overall Meaning

In "Breaking Up Slowly," Lana Del Rey sings about the complicated emotions that come with ending a relationship. She acknowledges that it's difficult to break up slowly, but ultimately knows it's the right thing to do. The lyrics suggest that she loves the other person, but staying with them is causing her pain. She asks if these are her good years, and wonders if there really are good years for everyone. She expresses a desire to not live with regret, and not end up like Tammy Wynette, hinting at the possibility that she doesn't want to stay in a relationship where she might feel like a "stand by your man" kind of wife.

She then brings up an incident where George got arrested, indicating that there might have been some sort of conflict in the relationship. She wonders if he will still love her long after she's gone, or if he saw the breakup coming. The song ends on the chorus, repeating that breaking up slowly is hard to do, but it's ultimately the right thing.

The lyrics are open to interpretation, but they seem to suggest that Lana Del Rey is experiencing doubts about the relationship and knows that ending it is the best course of action, despite the pain that comes with it. The reference to Tammy Wynette contributes to this as well, as Wynette is known for her songs about the hardships of love and relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

Breaking up slowly is a hard thing to do
Ending a romantic relationship gradually and not abruptly is a difficult task

I love you only, but it's making me blue
I have feelings for you, but being in this relationship is making me sad

So don't send me flowers like you always do
Please do not send me gifts to try and change my mind about ending this relationship

It's hard to be lonely, but it's the right thing
Being alone after a breakup is challenging, but it's the best decision for both of us

Are these my good years or do I have none?
Am I using my prime years wisely or wasting them?

Are there really good years for everyone?
Is it guaranteed that all individuals will have a period of their life when their happiest?

I don't wanna live with a life of regret
I don't want to have remorse for something I did or didn't do

I don't wanna end up like Tammy Wynette
I don't want to have a life like Tammy Wynette, the country singer who experienced tumultuous relationships

'Cause breaking up slowly is a hard thing to do
The reason why it's challenging to end a romantic relationship gradually

George got arrested out on the lawn
George, the person the lyricist is in a relationship with, was arrested for an unknown reason on the lawn outside

We might be breaking up after this song
This song might be the final chapter of our relationship

Will he still love me long after I'm gone?
Will George still have love for me even after we go our separate ways?

Or did he see it coming all along?
Did George anticipate our breakup from the start?

But it's the right thing to do
Ending this relationship is the best decision despite how challenging it is

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, ME GUSTA MUSIC
Written by: Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, Nicole Lane Frady

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind