Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart
.Alicia Keys Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Let's do it, baby
Let's do it, baby
Let's do it, do it

Even if you were a million miles away
I can still feel you in my bed
Near me, touch me, feel me
And even at the bottom of the sea
I could still hear inside my head
Telling me, touch me, feel me
And all the time, you were telling me lies, ay

So tonight, I'm gonna find a way to make it without you
Tonight, I'm gonna find a way to make it without you
I'm gonna hold on to the times that we had
Tonight, I'm gonna find a way to make it without you

Have you ever tried sleeping with a broken heart?
Well you could try sleeping in my bed
Lonely, own me, nobody ever shut it down like you
You wore the crown, you made my body feel Heaven-bound
Why don't you hold me? Need me
I thought you told me, you'd never leave me
Looking in the sky I could see your face
Then I knew right where I fit in
Take me, make me
You know that I'll always be in love with you
Right, 'til the end, ohh

So tonight, I'm gonna find a way to make it without you
Tonight, I'm gonna find a way to make it without you
I'm gonna hold on to the times that we had
Tonight, I'm gonna find a way to make it without you

Anybody could've told you right from the start it's 'bout to fall apart
So rather than hold on to a broken dream I'll just hold on to love
And I could find a way to make it, don't hold on too tight
I'll make it without you tonight

So tonight, I'm gonna find a way to make it without you
Tonight, I'm gonna find a way to make it without you (oh, hold on)
I'm gonna hold on to the times that we had
Tonight, I'm gonna find a way to make it without you

Oh, Lord

Have you ever tried? Have you ever
Living without my love
Have you ever tried, have you ever tried?

La, la
La-la-la-la-la, la
La, la-la-la-la-la-la-la




La-la, la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la

Overall Meaning

Alicia Keys' song "Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart" is a heart-wrenching anthem about moving forward after heartbreak. The lyrics are an exploration of the pain of losing someone you love, and the struggle to find a way to cope with the hurt. The song's themes are universal, touching on the shared experiences of love and loss, and the ways in which we try to heal ourselves.


The lyrics of the song convey a sense of desperation and longing. Keys sings about the difficulty of sleeping when you're heartbroken, and the pain of knowing that the person you love is no longer with you. The chorus of the song is particularly poignant, as Keys sings, "Tonight, I'm gonna find a way to make it without you/I'm gonna hold on to the times that we had/Tonight, I'm gonna find a way to make it without you." The repetition of the lyrics and the intensity of Keys' vocals convey the sense of determination and hopelessness that come with heartbreak.


The lyrics also touch on the idea of holding onto love, even after a relationship has ended. Keys sings about the ways in which she still feels connected to her former lover, even though they are no longer together. This sense of love and connection is a powerful force that allows us to persevere through difficult times, and it's a theme that resonates with many who have experienced the pain of heartbreak.


Line by Line Meaning

Even if you were a million miles away
Despite the physical distance between us, I still feel your presence with me


I can still feel you in my bed
Your memories continue to linger with me, even in my personal space


Near me, touch me, feel me
I yearn for the intimacy we once shared


And even at the bottom of the sea
You left a lasting impression on me, that I won't ever forget


I could still hear inside my head
My thoughts are consumed with thoughts of you


Telling me, touch me, feel me
I miss the physical and emotional connection we had


And all the time, you were telling me lies, ay
I was blind to your falsehoods and deception until it was too late


So tonight, I'm gonna find a way to make it without you
I'm determined to move on from this heartbreak


I'm gonna hold on to the times that we had
I cherish the beautiful moments we shared and will always remember them


Have you ever tried sleeping with a broken heart?
Do you know what it's like to feel heartbroken, yet still try to find peace in rest?


Lonely, own me, nobody ever shut it down like you
I feel lost and incomplete without you, no one has ever made me feel the way you did


You wore the crown, you made my body feel Heaven-bound
You had the power to lift me up and make me feel something divine


Why don't you hold me? Need me
I long for your embrace and the security of our relationship


I thought you told me, you'd never leave me
I trusted your promises and now feel betrayed by your departure


Looking in the sky I could see your face
I still have vivid memories of you and our time together


Then I knew right where I fit in
Being with you made me feel like I belonged and had purpose


Take me, make me
I'm willing to surrender myself to you and our love again


You know that I'll always be in love with you
My love for you will endure, despite the heartbreak and pain


Anybody could've told you right from the start it's 'bout to fall apart
Looking back, I realize that this relationship was doomed from the beginning


So rather than hold on to a broken dream I'll just hold on to love
I won't cling to a failed relationship, but I will continue to embrace the beauty and importance of love


And I could find a way to make it, don't hold on too tight
I'm confident that I can move forward into a happier future, as long as I don't obsess over the past


Oh, Lord
An appeal to a higher power for strength and guidance


Living without my love
The pain of being separated from someone I loved deeply


Have you ever tried, have you ever tried?
Do you know how it feels to lose the one you love?




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jeff Bhasker, Alicia Augello-Cook, Patrick Reynolds

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions