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The Takedown
Yellowcard Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I feel things changing when I move
(It's a distance, it's a difference)
I'll cross this planet without you
(And you might call this a downfall)
It's one long night that I'm passing through
(It's a dark one; what have I done?)
It's one long night

[Chorus:]
Don't turn your back on me now
You can't do this
Don't say you can live without
You can't do this alone
How did I end up like this, the lonely one, your greatest take down?
You take me down

Left last night with a long goodbye
(We cement why through a phone line)
I sold you thoughts that multiply
(That I don't know how to let go)
We've been here many times before
(I am empty when you leave me)
What's one more?

[Chorus]

You take me down

I won't get by; I won't heal in time
I won't get by

Don't turn your back on me now
You can't do this
Don't say you can't live without
You can do this alone
How did I end up like this, the chosen one, your greatest take down?
You take me down

Overall Meaning

In Yellowcard's song The Takedown, Ryan Key opens up about the aftermath of a significant life event that has fundamentally changed the way he sees the world as well as his place in it. The song is about overcoming the sense of loneliness and despair that occurs when something, or someone, you've always known is gone. Key voices this pain through his lyrics, "How did I end up like this, the lonely one, your greatest take down?".


Throughout the song, Key's lyrics, "Don't turn your back on me now, You can't do this, Don't say you can live without, You can't do this alone," demonstrate that he's both angry and trying to hold on. He's searching for something to belong to or a way to feel connected again. Despite the pain he's going through, there's an immense sense of hope throughout the song. Key ultimately recognizes that he can't move forward by ignoring his emotions, but through healing and accepting his feelings he can rise above it.


Overall, The Takedown is a powerful reminder of the significance of human connection and the lengths people will go to save a relationship. Key's lyrics coupled with Yellowcard's upbeat sound, results in a compelling and motivating song about healing.


Line by Line Meaning

I feel things changing when I move
I sense a shift in the environment whenever I travel


(It's a distance, it's a difference)
(It's a gap that separates us, and it makes all the difference)


I'll cross this planet without you
I'll traverse the earth without your companionship


(And you might call this a downfall)
(And you could consider it a failure)


It's one long night that I'm passing through
I'm enduring an interminable night of the soul


(It's a dark one; what have I done?)
(It's a bleak one, and I'm questioning my actions)


It's one long night
This night feels like it will never end


[Chorus:]
The following lines are the chorus of the song


Don't turn your back on me now
Please don't abandon me at this point


You can't do this
I believe you're unable to handle this situation


Don't say you can live without
Don't claim you can thrive without me


You can't do this alone
I don't think you can handle this on your own


How did I end up like this, the lonely one, your greatest take down?
Why did I become the isolated one, and how did I become your most significant defeat?


You take me down
You bring me down


Left last night with a long goodbye
I took my leave with a protracted farewell last night


(We cement why through a phone line)
(We affirmed our reasons over the phone)


I sold you thoughts that multiply
I conveyed ideas to you that grew exponentially


(That I don't know how to let go)
(And I have no clue how to let them go)


We've been here many times before
We've found ourselves in this place numerous times before


(I am empty when you leave me)
(I feel hollow when you depart)


What's one more?
What's another round of this pain?


[Chorus]
The following lines are the chorus of the song


I won't get by; I won't heal in time
I won't manage to continue, and I won't recover anytime soon


I won't get by
I won't make it on my own


Don't turn your back on me now
Please don't abandon me at this point


You can't do this
I believe you're unable to handle this situation


Don't say you can't live without
Don't claim you can thrive without me


You can do this alone
I think you can handle this on your own


How did I end up like this, the chosen one, your greatest take down?
Why did I become the selected one, and how did I become your most significant defeat?


You take me down
You bring me down




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LONGINEU WARREN III PARSONS, PETER MICHAEL MOSELY, RYAN MICHAEL MENDEZ, SEAN MICHAEL WELLMAN-MACKIN, WILLIAM RYAN KEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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