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Broken Vow
Josh Groban Lyrics


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Tell me his name
I want to know
The way he looks
And where you go
I need to see his face
I need to understand
Why you and I came to an end

Tell me again
I want to hear
Who broke my faith in all these years
Who lays with you at night
When I'm here all alone
Remembering when I was your own

I'll let you go
I'll let you fly
Why do I keep on asking why
I'll let you go
Now that I found
A way to keep somehow
More than a broken vow

Tell me the words I never said
Show me the tears you never shed
Give me the touch
That one you promised to be mine
Or has it vanished for all time

I'll let you go
I'll let you fly
Why do I keep on asking why
I'll let you go
Now that I found
A way to keep somehow
More than a broken vow

I close my eyes
And dream of you and I
And then I realize
There's more to life than only bitterness and lies
I close my eyes

I'd give away my soul
To hold you once again
And never let this promise end

I'll let you go
I'll let you fly
Why do I keep on asking why
I'll let you go
Now that I found
A way to keep somehow
More than a broken vow

Overall Meaning

Josh Groban's song "Broken Vow" explores the universal experience of a love that has ended. The singer addresses their former partner, asking for details of the person who has come between them. They long to understand why their relationship ended as they try to come to terms with the loss. The singer asks for details of their former partner's current life, including who lies in bed with them at night, which prompts memories of their once shared intimacy.


The singer's feelings oscillate between letting go of their former lover and hanging on to the hope that they can rekindle their relationship. They are conflicted between pining for their ex and recognizing that there is more to life than bitterness and lies. By the end of the song, the singer concludes that they will let their ex go, but not without making one last, desperate plea to be with them again.


Overall, "Broken Vow" touches on themes of heartbreak, loss, and the complicated nature of relationships. The singer's feelings are raw and intense, and the lyrics manage to capture the pain of a broken heart with clarity and depth.


Line by Line Meaning

Tell me his name
Josh Groban wants to know who his lover left him for.


I want to know
He is curious about his lover's new man.


The way he looks
Josh wants to know how this person looks.


And where you go
He wants to know where his lover goes with this person.


I need to see his face
He wants to see this person's face clearly.


I need to understand
Josh wants to understand why his lover left him for this person.


Why you and I came to an end
He is trying to figure out why their relationship ended.


Tell me again
Josh asks for a repeat of the story of his lover's unfaithfulness.


I want to hear
He wants to know what happened to cause the end of the relationship.


Who broke my faith in all these years
He wants to know who caused him to lose faith in long-term relationships.


Who lays with you at night
He wants to know who is sleeping with his lover now.


When I'm here all alone
He is lonesome without his lover.


Remembering when I was your own
Josh recalls the time when he was his lover's only partner.


I'll let you go
He decides to release his former lover.


I'll let you fly
He won't hold her back anymore.


Why do I keep on asking why
He doesn't understand why he keeps questioning her departure.


Now that I found
Josh has found a new way to hold on to his love.


A way to keep somehow
He has figured out how to hold on to his feelings for his former lover.


More than a broken vow
He has more loyalty, respect, and trust compared to his former lover's broken vow.


Tell me the words I never said
Josh wants to express the feelings he never got a chance to share.


Show me the tears you never shed
He wants to see the tears she never got a chance to let go.


Give me the touch
He wants her to touch his heart once again.


That one you promised to be mine
He is asking for her commitment that she once gave him.


Or has it vanished for all time
He is questioning whether her promise has evaporated with time.


I close my eyes
Josh imagines rekindling his love with her.


And dream of you and I
He is hoping to start fresh with his past lover.


And then I realize
Josh knows the reality of their past and its impact on their future.


There's more to life than only bitterness and lies
He realizes that there is more to life than resenting the past and delusion.


I'd give away my soul
He would sacrifice anything to hold her again.


To hold you once again
Josh wants to be in a relationship with her once again.


And never let this promise end
He promises to stay in love with her for a long time and sustain their relationship.




Lyrics © Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Lara Fabian, Walter Afanasieff

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@salliemae9284

Thank you Josh Groban
For sharing your beyond amazing voice that touches the inner core of my heart and soul singing this heart wrenching song
Been a fan since I heard you sung for the first time with Celine Dion.
Your voice is like a fine wine getting better and better .
For the heartbroken
This song will turn our hearts to million pieces .
What a voice
What a song
This will be on hundred repeats !!!!!
Shoutout to David Foster on the piano .



All comments from YouTube:

@JoshGroban

‘Closer (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)’, featuring the newly remastered original album and six bonus tracks, including a newly recorded, acoustic version of "Broken Vow” with David Foster on piano will be released on 2LP Orange Vinyl, 2CD & digitally. Order here: http://joshgroban.lnk.to/closerdeluxe

@fshs321

Same 😊

@elaineniland8683

Loved Josh since the first time I heard "To Where You Are"

@ElizeCloete

As always, your music lifts my heart!!! Enthusiastic fan. Thank you for 20 years of magic!

@Cyannah117

❤❤❤

@AlanaUliano

I still have the original CD.
I can't believe that it's been 20 years already! It feels like it was only yesterday.
Josh, you are the epitome of perfection.

12 More Replies...

@JeanineBruen

20 years in a flash. His voice feels like an old friend, or like Christmas morning. Every time.

@maggieboesel363

Love that! You captured him perfectly.

@jenniferloving9054

Feels that way for me, too.(My first Josh Groban CD was a Christmas present from my aunt.)

@phyllisprice5390

Jeanine—absolutely you’ve got that so right. Josh’s voice always is thrilling !

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