been waiting up
for you to rescue me
to come around
and cover everything
relying on my best memories
to breathe for me, breathe for me
i'm so much better than all this...all of this

i'm tired of singing all the sad songs in my head
but i can't find enough of anything
to drown out what you said
and sometimes i find i catch myself
letting you back in
but i'm so tired of singing all
the sad songs in my head

i can still smell
summer on your skin
i can still remember giving in
wrapped all up in your hips
and in your sheets
it felt great falling, great falling
i'm so much better than all this...
all of this

i'm tired of singing all the sad songs in my head
but i can't find enough of anything
to drown out what you said
and sometimes i find i catch myself
letting you back in
but i'm so tired of singing all
the sad songs in my head

feel so faded. so far gone
nothing suprises me anymore
i feel so faded. so far gone
nothing suprises me anymore
i'm tired of singing all the sad songs in my head
but i can't find enough of anything
to drown out what you said
and sometimes i find i catch myself
letting you back in
but i'm so tired of singing all
the sad songs in my head

Overall Meaning

In "Sad Songs," Matt Nathanson is singing about the aftermath of a breakup. He's waiting for his ex to come back to him and make everything right, but he knows that it's unlikely to happen. He's trying to cope with the pain of the breakup by relying on his best memories of the relationship, but it's not enough. He feels like he's so much better than all of this, but he's stuck in this cycle of sadness and heartbreak.

The chorus of the song is particularly poignant, as Nathanson laments how tired he is of singing all the sad songs in his head. He can't find anything to drown out the memories of his ex and what they said to each other. Even though he catches himself letting his ex back in, he knows that he's tired of feeling this way. The repeated line "I'm so much better than all of this" underscores the sense of frustration and confusion Nathanson feels as he tries to move on from the relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

been waiting up
I have been waiting patiently for you

for you to rescue me
To come and help me out of my current situation

to come around
To show up in my life

and cover everything
To make everything okay or better

relying on my best memories
Trying to hold onto the good times and remain positive

to breathe for me, breathe for me
To provide me with the strength to keep going and not give up

i'm so much better than all this...all of this
I am capable of moving on from this and being happy again

i'm tired of singing all the sad songs in my head
I am exhausted from constantly dwelling on my sadness

but i can't find enough of anything
I cannot find anything to distract me from my pain

to drown out what you said
To forget the hurtful things you said to me

and sometimes i find i catch myself
Occasionally, I realize that I am still holding onto the hope of being with you

letting you back in
Allowing you to have a place in my heart and thoughts again

but i'm so tired of singing all
But it is too exhausting to continue being sad

feel so faded. so far gone
I am washed out and lost in my emotions

nothing suprises me anymore
I am no longer shocked by anything that happens to me

i feel so faded. so far gone
I am beyond saving and almost resigned to feeling this way forever

but i'm so tired of singing all the sad songs in my head
I am done with being sad and want to move on from this chapter of my life

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