Here is some background information on Alabama Shakes from the Hold On Songfacts: The R&B-inspired Rock band Alabama Shakes originated when lead singer/guitarist Brittany Howard approached bassist Zac Cockrell during a high school psychology class in Athens, Alabama and the pair began meeting after school to write songs. Howard and Cockrell then approached Punk-Rock drummer Steve Johnson, who was working at a local music store, to join the band. The trio recorded some of their songs in a studio in Decatur, Alabama and subsequently recruited guitarist Heath Fogg on his return to Athens from college in Tuscaloosa. Originally christened "The Shakes," the band later renamed themselves The Alabama Shakes in order to differentiate themselves from other bands with their original name.
The Alabama foursome gained widespread media attention after releasing a self-titled four-song EP in September 2011 and Rough Trade Records in the United Kingdom and ATO Records in the United States signed them two months later. Hold On was released as the first single from their debut album, Boys & Girls .
Heartbreaker
Alabama Shakes Lyrics
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I didn't know, I couldn't know
I lay naked on the floor and I want it back
How was I supposed to know, oh I oh Lord, what sweet things
Yeah I, oh Lord
How was I supposed to know you'd give me my heartache
Mama couldn't tell me about the feeling
Well they got true meaning
Oh why oh why did it happen
Drive me wild babe
How was I supposed to know you'd give me my heartache
How was I supposed to know you was a heartbreaker
Oh I didn't know, I didn't know
Now I'm lonely, give up slowly
And I want it back
Who ever said that we two were never meant
I tell you how I know you wrong
I f***ed you on
I know that way things are
I fight the planet
Why why did happen, oh why babe
How was I supposed to know you were my heartbreaker
How was I supposed to know he was a heartbreaker
Oh I didn't know, I didn't know
I was gonna go with you
And I wanna die
Oh I wanted to grow old with you
You told me so, but then you go
How was I supposed to know
The lyrics to Alabama Shakes's song "Heartbreaker" explore the pain of heartbreak and the confusion that can accompany the sudden realization that someone you love is actually a "heartbreaker." The singer begins by expressing her shock and disbelief at discovering that the person she trusted was not who she thought they were. The lyrics "How was I supposed to know he was a heartbreaker / I didn't know, I couldn't know" suggest that she feels deceived by this person, and that she was completely unaware of their true intentions.
Throughout the song, the singer reflects on the various signs and signals that she may have missed, such as the "lovesick songs" that suddenly take on a new meaning after the fact. Despite her pain and confusion, the singer is also defiant, refusing to accept blame for the situation and standing up for herself. The lines "Who ever said that we two were never meant / I tell you how I know you wrong / I f***ed you on / I know that way things are / I fight the planet" suggest that she is determined to move forward and find strength in her independence.
Overall, "Heartbreaker" is a powerful exploration of the pain and confusion that can accompany heartbreak, as well as the resilience and strength that can be born from that pain.
Line by Line Meaning
How was I supposed to know he was a heartbreaker
I had no idea that the person I was with was going to break my heart.
I didn't know, I couldn't know
I had no way of knowing what was going to happen to me.
I lay naked on the floor and I want it back
I feel completely exposed and vulnerable, and I wish I could turn back time and undo what happened.
How was I supposed to know, oh I oh Lord, what sweet things
I had no idea that the person who hurt me so deeply would be capable of saying such sweet things.
Yeah I, oh Lord
I am feeling overwhelmed with emotion and turning to a higher power for comfort.
How was I supposed to know you'd give me my heartache
I had no idea that you would be the cause of my emotional pain.
Mama couldn't tell me about the feeling
My mother couldn't have prepared me for how much it would hurt to have my heart broken.
And all them lovesick songs,
All the songs I used to listen to about heartbreak suddenly make a lot more sense now that I've experienced it.
Well they got true meaning
Those love songs are no longer just words; they're describing a real, painful experience I've had.
Oh why oh why did it happen
I can't understand why something so painful had to happen to me.
Drive me wild babe
This heartbreak is driving me crazy with confusion and pain.
How was I supposed to know you'd give me my heartache
Once again, I had no idea that you would be the one to cause this emotional pain in my life.
How was I supposed to know you was a heartbreaker
I had no way of knowing that the person I was with had a history of breaking hearts.
Now I'm lonely, give up slowly
Now that you're gone, I'm feeling incredibly lonely and my hope for love is dwindling.
And I want it back
I wish I could have back the love and happiness I felt before it was taken away from me.
Who ever said that we two were never meant
Someone once said that we weren't supposed to be together, but I didn't believe them.
I tell you how I know you wrong
I know for a fact that they were wrong about us not being meant to be.
I f***ed you on
I let us both believe that we were meant to be together, but now I'm regretting it.
I know that way things are
I know that things didn't work out, but it doesn't make it any easier to accept.
I fight the planet
I feel like the universe is against me, and I'm fighting against it to try and find love again.
Why why did happen, oh why babe
I'm still struggling to understand why this painful experience happened to me.
How was I supposed to know you were my heartbreaker
I had no idea that you were going to be the one to break my heart.
Oh I didn't know, I didn't know
Once again, I had no way of knowing what was going to happen to me.
I was gonna go with you
I had plans and dreams of being with you, but they are now shattered.
And I wanna die
The pain of heartbreak is so overwhelming that I can't imagine going on living with it.
Oh I wanted to grow old with you
I had envisioned a future together, growing old and being happy, but that dream is now gone.
You told me so, but then you go
You had promised me a future together, but then you left me alone and brokenhearted.
How was I supposed to know
Overall, I had no way of predicting or preparing for this immense pain in my life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Zachary Riley Cockrell, Heath Allen Fogg, Brittany Amber Howard, Steven William Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind