The Silence
Alexandra Burke Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

You lift me up
And knock me down
I'm never sure just what to feel when you're around
I speak my heart
But don't know why
Cause you don't never really say what's on you mind

It's like
I'm walking on broken glass
I wanna know but I don't wanna ask

So say you love me
Or say you need me
Don't let the silence
Do the talking
Just say you want me
Or you don't need me
Don't let the silence
Do the talking

It's killing me (love in silence)
It's killing me (love in silence)
It's killing me (love in silence)

You let me in
But then sometimes
Your empty eyes just make me feel so cold inside
When I'm with you
It's like rolling dice
Don't know where or how you're gonna make me cry

So say you love me
Or say you need me
Don't let the silence
Do the talking
Just say you want me
Or you don't need me
Don't let the silence
Do the talking

It's killing me (love in silence)
It's killing me (love in silence)
Oh oh oh oh (love in silence)

It's like
I'm (I'm) walking on (walking on) broken glass
I wanna know but I don't wanna ask

'Cause once you say it
You can't take it back
And this the end and please just fake it fast

So say you love me
Or say you need me
Don't let the silence (ooh)
Do the talking
Just say you want me (say you want me)
Or you don't need me (but you don't want me)
Don't let the silence
Do the talking

Whoa (love in silence)
Oh (love in silence)
Whoa (love in silence)

Oh yeah, oh (love in silence, love in silence, love in silence)
You lift me up
And knock me down
I'm never sure just what to feel when you're around

Overall Meaning

The Silence by Alexandra Burke is a song about the frustrations of trying to navigate a relationship where one person is not communicating their feelings effectively. The opening lines set the tone of the song, with the singer feeling constantly confused, never sure of what to feel when their love interest is around, because they never say what's on their mind. The song then reveals the internal turmoil the singer experiences when trying to interpret the other person’s silence, with the metaphor of walking on broken glass, bringing to life the difficulties of this situation. The chorus follows, with the singer pleading with their partner to communicate instead of keeping silent, to say whether they love them, need them, or want them, because the silence is killing them. The song then goes on to explain further the singer's feelings of insecurity in the relationship, with their partner sometimes making them feel 'cold inside,' and their interactions feeling as though they are 'rolling dice.' The bridge drives home the importance of communication, exhorting the partner to 'just say it,' rather than faking it, which will only lead to the eventual end of the relationship.


Overall, The Silence is a song full of emotion and vulnerability, representing the struggles that come with love and communication. Alexandra Burke’s powerful vocals take the listener on an emotional journey that anyone who’s ever felt the pain of love and silence can relate to.


Line by Line Meaning

You lift me up
You make me feel happy and confident


And knock me down
But then you make me feel sad and insecure


I'm never sure just what to feel when you're around
I have mixed emotions when I'm with you


I speak my heart
I tell you how I feel


But don't know why
But I'm not sure why I bother, since you never say anything back


'Cause you don't never really say what's on you mind
Because you keep your thoughts and feelings to yourself, and I have to guess what you're thinking


It's like I'm walking on broken glass
Being around you is painful and uncertain


I wanna know but I don't wanna ask
I want to know how you feel, but I'm afraid to ask


So say you love me
Just tell me that you love me


Or say you need me
Or tell me that you need me


Don't let the silence do the talking
Don't let the lack of communication between us speak for how you feel


Just say you want me
Or simply say that you want me


Or you don't need me
Or if you don't want me, just say it


It's killing me (love in silence)
This lack of communication is hurting me deeply


You let me in
You allowed me to get close to you


But then sometimes
But other times


Your empty eyes just make me feel so cold inside
Your lack of emotion or expression makes me feel unloved and alone


When I'm with you
Being with you


It's like rolling dice
Is like taking a chance; I never know what I'm gonna get


Don't know where or how you're gonna make me cry
I am unsure of what will make me upset and cause me to cry


'Cause once you say it
Because once you say how you feel


You can't take it back
You can't unsay it and take it back


And this the end and please just fake it fast
And if this is the end of our relationship, please pretend to still care until it's over


Whoa (love in silence)
The lack of communication between us is causing pain and distress


Oh yeah, oh (love in silence, love in silence, love in silence)
The silence is a constant source of unhappiness and suffering




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BILAL HAJJI, NADIR KHAYAT, SAVAN KOTECHA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@hartyharry2912

How on earth this song didn't win or get a grammy nomination. This us out of this world.

@markwilliams3404

She's British but I agree she should of won Brits for this

@darrymatiasconde

This is one of the most difficult song to sing ... You need a huge breath control.

@ogolakay

I wonder why this song never reached a billion touches. Nostalgic 😌😌

@willmaynard9016

She's underrated because of the xfactor. She's awesome, far more class than Beyonce I'd say.

@victoriaoluboyo4314

Anyone in 2020. Just love this song

@Dennis_Okelo

I am here amidst Corona virus

@dinasilva9263

I 'm Always here. I LOVE this so much!!!

@gennaroromano2065

Me and make me cry 😭💔

@AshleyTutss

I’m here now :) love Alexandra she’s too talented too be ignored!

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