We were so drunk last night
We had that stupid fight
You called me a useless, selfish prick
So I'm in a fix right now

And we'll measure the truth somehow
Love is a funny thing to me.
Then you stormed out and grabbed your coat while slamming shut the door
A ruthless move so cold, you left your keys inside the door.

Can nothing I do make you happy anymore
Nothing I say put a smile onto your face
Can nothing I say bring us back together
Nothing I do put a smile onto your face

Well, okay.

Next day I called you back
And you called me a stupid twat
And then you were crying on the phone
You sounded so upset

Said I wasn't the man you met
Three years and seven months ago
I pleaded with her. Take me back. I'll change my sorry ways.
So tell me why mysteriously I'm annoyed instead of shamed

Oh, can nothing I do make you happy anymore
Nothing I say put a smile onto your face
Can nothing I say bring us back together
Nothing I do put a smile onto your face

I'm pondering it all
After that call
I think it is clear
I am here

You're from another stratosphere
Oh, now all the things she said
They went around my head
And come out my ear and not before long
This stubborn soul thinks he's done no wrong

As when the questions flutter 'round my head like butterflies
My head spins at reflecting on another love's demise

Oh, can nothing I do make you happy anymore
Nothing I say put a smile onto your face
Can nothing I say bring us back together
Nothing I do put a smile onto your face

Overall Meaning

The song Nothing I Do by Jamie Cullum is about the ups and downs of a romantic relationship. The lyrics describe a situation where the two people in the relationship have had a fight, with hurtful words spoken in anger. Despite apologies and attempts to reconcile, the relationship seems to be falling apart, and the singer of the song wonders if anything he does can make his partner happy again. The lyrics seem to be referencing the frustrations and misunderstandings that can arise between people who are deeply in love but struggling to communicate their feelings.

The first verse sets the scene for the song, with the singer talking about a fight he had with his partner while they were drunk. Despite making promises to change and trying to win back his partner's affection, nothing seems to be working. The chorus repeats the theme of the song, with the singer expressing his frustration at not being able to make his partner happy anymore. The second verse introduces a phone call between the two people, where hurtful words are exchanged yet again, and the singer pleads with his partner to forgive him and give him another chance. However, even when his partner is crying and appears to be upset, the singer is unable to make her smile.

The bridge of the song is introspective, with the singer reflecting on the situation and questioning his own motives and behavior. He acknowledges that his partner is from a different world than him and that there are misunderstandings and miscommunications between them. Despite this, he still seems to be unable to admit that he may have played a role in the failure of the relationship.

Overall, the song is a poignant exploration of the difficulties that arise in relationships, particularly when communication breaks down. The lyrics capture the frustration and sadness that can come when a relationship that was once full of love and joy starts to fall apart.

Line by Line Meaning

We were so drunk last night
We were both heavily inebriated yesterday evening

We had that stupid fight
We engaged in a nonsensical altercation

You called me a useless, selfish prick
You insulted me by referring to me as an unhelpful, self-absorbed person

So I'm in a fix right now
Consequently, I find myself in a difficult situation

And we'll measure the truth somehow
We will determine the veracity of our relationship in some way

Love is a funny thing to me.
To me, love possesses comedic characteristics

Then you stormed out and grabbed your coat while slamming shut the door
You exited passionately, taking your outerwear and forcefully closing the entrance

A ruthless move so cold, you left your keys inside the door.
Your cold, calculating actions constituted a cruel deed, leaving your keys behind in the process

Can nothing I do make you happy anymore
It appears that anything I undertake no longer provides you with contentment

Nothing I say put a smile onto your face
You seem incapable of exhibiting happiness when presented with my words

Can nothing I say bring us back together
It seems unlikely that my words will mend our relationship

Nothing I do put a smile onto your face
It seems unlikely that anything I undertake will make you happy

Well, okay.
I understand and accept the current state of our relationship

Next day I called you back
The very next day, I contacted you once again

And you called me a stupid twat
You referred to me in derogatory terms by stating that I was foolish

And then you were crying on the phone
You exhibited tears while speaking to me on the telephonic device

You sounded so upset
Your voice conveyed your emotional turmoil

Said I wasn't the man you met
You claimed that I differed from the individual you initially encountered

Three years and seven months ago
A duration of three years and seven months has passed since our initial meeting

I pleaded with her. Take me back. I'll change my sorry ways.
I implored for us to reconcile, elucidating my intention to alter my behavior for the better

So tell me why mysteriously I'm annoyed instead of shamed
I find it perplexing that frustration has overcome me instead of experiencing remorse

I'm pondering it all
I am meticulously contemplating everything

After that call
In the aftermath of that conversation

I think it is clear
It is now evident to me

I am here
I am present and accounted for

You're from another stratosphere
You seem to hail from a different realm altogether

Oh, now all the things she said
Every statement that she proffered

They went around my head
They went round and round in my mind

And come out my ear and not before long
Subsequently, they exited through my ear canal in short order

This stubborn soul thinks he's done no wrong
This obstinate individual believes that they have not committed any errors

As when the questions flutter 'round my head like butterflies
When queries float haphazardly around my consciousness like butterflies

My head spins at reflecting on another love's demise
Mentally, I feel disoriented when contemplating the end of another relationship

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