Bound
Amy Millan Lyrics


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He stood in the doorway
Holdin' his head half-past low
You could still feel the perfume
Hangin' at the end of the hall

She tried to fight it
She kept on denyin' it
Knowing that he'd lose without her
But the fussin', the fightin'
The boozin', the cryin'
Left her more empty than hopes

I'd rather love you than leave you, my darlin'
But lovin's just not what we do
So, as hard as a habit and as cold as my heart
I'm breakin' this forever for now

It only took two days
'Til Johnny got locked up in jail
The other guy didn't die
But he won't be walkin' for awhile

But the phone kept on ringin'
But she wouldn't let him
Get the best of her
'Cause there's no more playin' momma
Enough with the drama
Little boy, stand on your own

I'd rather love you than leave you, my darlin'
But lovin's just not what we do




So, as hard as a habit, as cold as my heart
I'm breakin' this forever for now

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Amy Millan's song Bound depict the aftermath of a failed relationship. The song opens with a scene of a man standing in a doorway with his head hung low, as the remnants of a woman's perfume fill the hallway. It is clear that the two were once lovers, but their relationship has reached a breaking point. The woman tries to resist the man's advances, as she is aware that he cannot be happy without her. However, the constant fighting, drinking, and crying have left her empty and hopeless.


The chorus "I'd rather love you than leave you, my darlin' / But lovin's just not what we do / So, as hard as a habit and as cold as my heart / I'm breakin' this forever for now" portrays the sadness and frustration of both parties. They both wish to remain together, but their love is not sustainable. The sadness and coldness of the final lines, indicating a clean break, is a harsh reality for anyone experiencing a heartbreak.


Overall the song Bound is a powerful representation of the emotions felt during a difficult time in a relationship. The lyrics are relatable and poignant, making them a perfect match for the melancholic melody that accompanies them.


Line by Line Meaning

He stood in the doorway
He was present by the entrance


Holdin' his head half-past low
He was hanging his head down and looking sad


You could still feel the perfume
The scent of perfume was still present


Hangin' at the end of the hall
The fragrance was lingering at the distant end of the corridor


She tried to fight it
She attempted to resist it


She kept on denyin' it
She continued to refuse to admit the truth


Knowing that he'd lose without her
She was aware that he couldn't succeed without her


But the fussin', the fightin'
The fighting and bickering


The boozin', the cryin'
The excessive drinking and crying


Left her more empty than hopes
The fighting and drinking left her more despondent than she already was


I'd rather love you than leave you, my darlin'
I prefer to stay and love you rather than walking away


But lovin's just not what we do
However, we do not seem to be very good at loving each other


So, as hard as a habit and as cold as my heart
Despite how difficult it is and how unfeeling I seem, I am still going to break things off


I'm breakin' this forever for now
I am ending things permanently but with the possibility of reconciliation in the future


It only took two days
Only two days have passed since the incident


'Til Johnny got locked up in jail
Until Johnny was incarcerated


The other guy didn't die
The other individual was not fatally injured


But he won't be walkin' for awhile
However, he will not be able to walk for some time


But the phone kept on ringin'
The phone kept ringing repeatedly


But she wouldn't let him
But she refused to speak with him


Get the best of her
She wouldn't let him defeat her or bring her down


'Cause there's no more playin' momma
Because she is no longer willing to act like his mother/deal with his immaturity


Enough with the drama
She is done with the theatrics


Little boy, stand on your own
He needs to learn to be independent and support himself




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: AMY MILLAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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