Walking on Broken Glass
Annie Lennox Lyrics

Walking on, walking on broken glass
The repeated chorus emphasizes the feeling of walking on something fragile and dangerous, which represents the uncertain and unstable emotional state of the singer.

You were the sweetest thing that I ever knew
The singer is acknowledging the positive qualities of their past relationship.

But I don't care for sugar, honey, if I can't have you
The singer is expressing that the good memories do not outweigh the pain of losing their loved one.

Since you've abandoned me
The artist is feeling a sense of betrayal and hurt from being left behind.

My whole life has crashed
The artist's life has turned upside down due to the loss of their partner.

Won't you pick the pieces up?
The singer is pleading for their former partner to help them heal and move on.

'Cause it feels just like I'm walking on broken glass
The singer is using the metaphor of walking on broken glass to represent the pain and difficulty of moving on from the relationship.

The sun's still shining in big blue sky
The artist is acknowledging that life goes on despite their personal turmoil.

But it don't mean nothing to me
The artist is indicating that they are unable to enjoy life at the moment due to their emotional state.

Oh, let the rain come down
The artist is expressing a desire for a cleansing or purifying experience.

Let the wind blow through me
The singer is willing to experience the full force of nature as a way of trying to find release from their pain.

I'm living in an empty room
The artist is highlighting their loneliness and sense of despair.

With all the windows smashed
The singer's surroundings are in a state of chaos, much like their emotions.

And I've got so little left to lose
The singer has already lost so much that they feel like they have nothing else to lose.

That it feels just like I'm walking on broken glass
The repeated use of the metaphor reinforces the idea that the singer is struggling to move forward and is stuck in a painful emotional state.

And if you're trying to cut me down
The artist is warning their former partner that they will not be able to hurt them any more than they already have.

You know that I might bleed
The artist is acknowledging that they are still vulnerable to further pain.

'Cause if you're trying to cut me down
The singer is repeating the warning in a more forceful way.

I know that you'll succeed
The singer is accepting that they may be hurt again.

And if you want to hurt me
The artist is acknowledging that their former partner has the power to hurt them.

There's nothing left to fear
The artist has already been hurt and is ready to face whatever else may come.

'Cause if you want to hurt me
Another repetition of the previous line to show the artist's resolve.

You're doing really well, my dear
The singer is being sarcastic, implying that their former partner is not going to be successful in hurting them further.

Now everyone of us was made to suffer
The artist is expressing a universal truth that everyone experiences pain and hardship in life.

Everyone of us was made to weep
The singer is acknowledging the inevitability of sadness and tears in life.

We've been hurting one another
The singer is acknowledging that both they and their partner are responsible for the pain they are experiencing.

Now the pain has cut too deep
The singer is indicating that the relationship has reached a point of no return, and the pain is too great to overcome.

So take me from the wreckage
The artist is again pleading for help, this time to be rescued from their current emotional state.

Save me from the blast
The artist is seeking a way to be protected from further emotional harm.

Lift me up and take me back
The singer is asking to be rescued and returned to a better time, before their relationship fell apart.

Don't let me keep on walking (don't let me keep on walking)
The singer is indicating that they need help to stop dwelling on the pain and move on.

I can't keep on walking on (keep on walking on)
The repeated refrain emphasizes the artist's need for someone to help them stop feeling like they are walking on broken glass.

(I can't) Keep on walking on broken glass
The final line reiterates the artist's state of emotional pain and inability to move on alone.