Who am I to save you
To try and tame you
And now that you are free of me
But next time when you break down
Is it me you'll take down
With you on your knees?

So who was I to hurt you
To desert you
When you needed me there
So now that you've learned to hate me
You're finally set free
I fall to my knees

And I'm breathing slowly
Like you said to do when you had lost control
My head spins from God's wind
That carries you away from me
Looks like you got away from me
This time
For good

And since those days have passed me by
I'm in and out of life
The way you used to be
You know I always was the strong one
But now I've come undone
Sweet Release (come to me)

And I'm breathing slowly
Like you said to do when you had lost control
My head spins from God's wind
That carries you away from me
Looks like you got away from me, this time
You got away from me, oh yea
You got away for good

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Crossfade's song "Breathing Slowly" describe a failed relationship where the singer acknowledges their mistakes and regrets. They start by acknowledging that they are not capable of saving the other person, and that they regret hurting and deserting them. The singer realizes that they were not there when the other person needed them and that they were the source of the hate the other person now feels. They express sadness that the other person has gone away from them for good, and that they too are coming undone.

The chorus describes the aftermath of the relationship. The singer is trying to cope with their emotions by breathing slowly, as advised by the other person when they were losing control. However, their head is spinning, feeling like they are being carried away by the wind that separates them from the other person. The singer realizes that the other person has finally escaped them for good.

Line by Line Meaning

Who am I to save you
I had no authority to be your savior

To try and tame you
I was foolish to try to control you

And now that you are free of me
Since you no longer need me, now that you're free of my grip

But next time when you break down
If you have problems again in the future

Is it me you'll take down
Will you blame me for your problems again?

With you on your knees?
Will you bring me down with you?

So who was I to hurt you
I had no right to cause you pain

To desert you
To abandon you when you needed me

When you needed me there
At a time when you depended on me

So now that you've learned to hate me
Now that you've come to despise me

You're finally set free
You've finally been liberated