Holding My Breath
Awaken the Empire Lyrics


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So my friend
If you could only read my mind
Now
Then I couldn't hide
I wouldn't be afraid
Just to look you in the eye
And tell you, you're beautiful
You're beautiful... to mine

And I am lost in my mind
Without the words to speak today
(I get lost in your eyes)
And I don't have the nerve to just stay silent
So I keep holding on my breath until I break

I suffocate
It's like my lungs are caving in
Under the weight of months
And goodbye is not an option
Until I break and tell you you're beautiful;
You're beautiful... tonight

There's so much
There's so much
There's So much
I'd say to you
I love you x3
I swear I do
I love you x2

There's so much
There's so much
There's So much
I'd say to you
I love you x3




I swear I do
I love you...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Awaken the Empire's song "Holding My Breath" express the feelings of being unable to fully express oneself to someone they care about. The singer wishes their friend could read their mind so that they wouldn't have to hide; they want to be able to tell their friend how beautiful they are without fear. The fear of speaking up and the weight of unspoken emotions cause the singer to feel suffocated, as though their lungs are caving in. They hold their breath until they can't bear it anymore and are forced to express their love and admiration for their friend.


The theme of unexpressed emotions and longing is evident throughout the song. The lyrics emphasize the desire to speak openly and honestly, but fear holds the singer back. The line "And I don't have the nerve to just stay silent" shows that the singer recognizes their fear but still struggles to overcome it. The repetition of "There's so much / I'd say to you / I love you" highlights the depth of emotion that the singer is unable to express.


Overall, the song speaks to the universal experience of holding back one's feelings, whether it be fear of rejection or fear of vulnerability. The lyrics capture the frustration and yearning of being unable to fully express oneself, and the final admission of love is a release from the emotional pressure.


Line by Line Meaning

So my friend
Addressing a friend before expressing innermost thoughts and emotions


If you could only read my mind
Wishing that the friend could understand unspoken feelings


Now
Emphatically indicating the present moment


Then I couldn't hide
Acknowledging that thoughts and emotions are being concealed


I wouldn't be afraid
Expressing confidence in opening up about feelings


Just to look you in the eye
Directly confronting the friend in a sincere manner


And tell you, you're beautiful
Acknowledging the friend's attractiveness


You're beautiful... to mine
Personalizing the compliment and expressing admiration


And I am lost in my mind
Feeling overwhelmed by emotions and thoughts


Without the words to speak today
Lacking the ability to articulate these feelings


(I get lost in your eyes)
Possibly distracted by the friend's eyes, making it harder to speak


And I don't have the nerve to just stay silent
Feeling pressure to express these emotions, but also too scared to do so


So I keep holding on my breath until I break
Bottling up emotions until they become unbearable


I suffocate
Feeling smothered or choked by these emotions


It's like my lungs are caving in
Using a metaphor to describe the physical toll of holding in emotions


Under the weight of months
Implying that these emotions have been building up for a long time


And goodbye is not an option
Not wanting to let go of the friendship or relationship


Until I break and tell you you're beautiful;
The need to express this compliment is becoming overwhelming


You're beautiful... tonight
The timing of the confession is crucial, as it has been building up for months


There's so much
The depth of emotions and thoughts


I'd say to you
Acknowledging that these feelings need to be expressed


I love you x3
The ultimate expression of admiration and affection


I swear I do
Reiterating the sincerity of these emotions


I love you x2
Repeating the sentiment for emphasis




Contributed by Jasmine K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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