- David McCormick (lead singer)
- Alan… Read Full Bio ↴A Rotterdam November is:
- David McCormick (lead singer)
- Alan Schwaderer (keys, guitar, backup vocals)
- Jared Nelson (guitar, backup vocals)
- Andy Baker (bass)
- David Niacaris (drums)
- Dylan Anitok (guitar, backup vocals)
The band formed in late 2006, Boise, Idaho.
Their name alludes to what happened in the aftermath of the bombing of the city of Rotterdam during WWII. After the heart of the venerable city had been completely destroyed, architects reconstructed it from scratch. The band's name reflects the interpretation of this idea of "an old city with a new heart" as a Christian metaphor for the renewing transformation of a heart damaged by sin.
Breakdown
A Rotterdam November Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
that was only open to
the people that you know would
never let you down
Who taught you to give away your heart
too soon and...
All you created
Your friends are gone
But were they ever really there?
Come on just ask yourself why
You broke-broke down
You say you cant hear her
while she's screaming in both your ears.
Wisdoms never known you to be to be a friend.
A house needs an owner
A door needs a key made to match.
Whoever owns your heart will always own you.
Who taught you to give away your heart
too soon and...
Breakdown
All you created
Your friends are gone
But were they ever really there?
Come on just ask yourself why
You broke-broke down
You gotta know where you're at
you will always be
whoa
You gotta know where you're at
you will always be
whoa
You gotta know where you're at
you don't have to be
The lyrics to "Breakdown" by A Rotterdam November describe the feeling of being let down by those closest to you and feeling lost and alone as a result. The opening line "Blank stare on my mirror" suggests a sense of emptiness and confusion. The mirror is a reflection of oneself, but the singer sees only a blank stare - they don't recognize themselves, and they're not sure who they are anymore. The next line, "that was only open to the people that you know would never let you down," implies that the singer has been betrayed by people they trusted. They've closed themselves off from everyone except those they believed they could rely on, but even those people have let them down.
The chorus of the song, "Breakdown, all you created, your friends are gone, but were they ever really there?" highlights the idea that the singer has lost everything they thought they had. They created a life for themselves, but it all fell apart. They trusted their friends, but now they wonder if their friends were ever really there for them. The repeated phrase at the end of the chorus, "come on just ask yourself why you broke-broke down," is a challenge to the singer to examine their own actions and motivations. Perhaps they can find a way out of their current predicament by understanding what led them to this point.
The bridge of the song, "You say you can't hear her while she's screaming in both your ears. Wisdoms never known you to be a friend," suggests that the singer is not listening to the voice of reason - represented here as a "she" - and that they are not known for being a good friend. The rest of the lyrics continue the theme of feeling lost and disconnected from oneself and others.
Line by Line Meaning
Blank stare on my mirror
I look at myself in the mirror, feeling empty and emotionless.
that was only open to
The mirror was only reflecting what I was showing it, not what I was feeling inside.
the people that you know would
I only shared my true feelings with the people I trust and know they won't betray me.
never let you down
I rely on the support and love of these people who I consider to be my true friends.
Who taught you to give away your heart
I wonder who or what made me give my heart and trust so easily.
too soon and...
I regret giving my heart to someone before knowing their true intentions.
Breakdown
I am emotionally overwhelmed and on the brink of breaking down mentally.
All you created
All the relationships and connections I built no longer serve their purpose and are falling apart.
Your friends are gone
I am losing the support and love of the people who I thought were my true friends.
But were they ever really there?
I question if these people were really my true friends or if I was just mistaken in trusting them.
Come on just ask yourself why
I am urging myself to reflect and figure out why everything is falling apart.
You broke-broke down
I have reached a breaking point and can no longer hold on to my emotions and thoughts.
You say you cant hear her
I am refusing to listen to the person who is trying to help me through my struggles and emotions.
while she's screaming in both your ears.
Despite the person's efforts to help me, I am still refusing to listen and choosing to suffer alone.
Wisdoms never known you to be to be a friend.
I have never been one to take advice or listen to wisdom from others.
A house needs an owner
Everything needs someone to take care of it and nurture it in order to thrive.
A door needs a key made to match.
Every door needs a specific key to unlock it, just as every person needs a specific approach to truly connect with them.
Whoever owns your heart will always own you.
I realize that by giving my heart away so easily, I have handed over control of my emotions and life to someone else.
You gotta know where you're at
I need to be aware of my emotional state and surroundings to truly understand and navigate through my struggles.
you will always be
No matter what happens, I will always be myself and need to embrace that.
whoa
An exclamation expressing the intensity of my emotions and struggles.
You don't have to be
I do not have to conform to others' expectations or opinions and should embrace my own identity.
Contributed by Gabriella V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Andrew Walter
amazzinggg :) i saw them in concert today.. awasomeee
Zentcius
Same here!