Honest Goodbyes
Bic Runga(빅 룽아) Lyrics
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Rescue me if you like
I'll be leaving it all up to you
Think how we tried
It's o.k. to be lied to
As long as it's only by you
People say to me it's best that we've parted
'Cause you know I'm better alone
I'm too busy mending my own
Ending each night with such honest goodbyes
Such honest goodbyes for the last time
Honest goodbyes only work once or twice
They work once or twice
Then the rest must be lies
Late ever night the colors fade from the sky
And the music is gone from the moon
Standing in line for what used to be mine
What use is the rhyme with no tune
People say to me it's best that we've parted
And nothing is carved out in stone
It's such a shame how we're back where we started
It's late now and time that we go
Ending each night with such honest goodbyes
Such honest goodbyes for the last time
Honest goodbyes only work once or twice
They work once or twice
Then the rest must be lies
The rest must be lies
The rest must be lies
The rest must be lies
The rest must be lies
The rest must be lies
The rest must be lies
The rest must be lies
In Bic Runga's "Honest Goodbyes," the singer seems to be addressing a former lover or ex-partner, expressing a sense of detachment and resignation wrapped up in the idea of saying goodbye. The first verse contains talk of surrendering control and leaving things in the hands of the other person, suggesting a detachment from the situation despite the desire for rescue. The singer acknowledges that it's okay to be lied to by this person, likely expressing an awareness of past betrayals, but still harboring affection for them.
The second verse highlights the way in which people around the singer are advising her to move on and leave the past behind, even if it's painful. The singer, however, is more focused on her own healing process, rather than the pain of the separation. The song's chorus, with its repeated refrain of "honest goodbyes," can be seen as something of a contradiction; the idea of honesty in goodbyes would usually suggest sincerity, but at the same time the song acknowledges the potential for further deception and dishonesty in future goodbyes, after the initial honesty has run its course.
This song strikes a balance between hope and resignation, the honesty in the goodbyes both a recognition of the end and an acknowledgement that the process of healing and growing beyond that end remains ongoing. It's a poignant meditation on the complexities of parting ways with someone, and the ways in which goodbyes can be both sincere and rooted in deception.
Line by Line Meaning
Sink with the tide
I will let things take their natural course and not try to resist the inevitable
Rescue me if you like
If you still care about me, you can try to save what is left of our relationship
I'll be leaving it all up to you
I am no longer invested in making this work, so the decision is yours to make
Think how we tried
Remember how we put effort into making our relationship work
It's o.k. to be lied to
I am willing to overlook your faults and mistakes as long as you are honest with me going forward
As long as it's only by you
I can only tolerate lies from you because I trust you more than anyone else
People say to me it's best that we've parted
Others have told me that breaking up was the right decision
'Cause you know I'm better alone
I am more content being by myself than in a relationship that isn't working
Don't explain to me how you're so broken hearted
I do not want to hear about your emotional pain because it will not change my decision
I'm too busy mending my own
I need to focus on my own emotional healing before I can help anyone else
Ending each night with such honest goodbyes
We are saying goodbye to each other honestly and openly every night
Such honest goodbyes for the last time
These honest goodbyes will be the final ones we have
Honest goodbyes only work once or twice
Being honest about our goodbyes can only be effective for a limited amount of time
They work once or twice
Our honesty only has a temporary impact
Then the rest must be lies
After the initial honesty, any further attempts at goodbye will likely be disingenuous
Late ever night the colors fade from the sky
Every night, the day ends and darkness takes over
And the music is gone from the moon
The beauty of the night sky has faded and the moon no longer brings comfort
Standing in line for what used to be mine
I am waiting for something that was once important to me, but is no longer attainable
What use is the rhyme with no tune
Having the right words to say means little if they cannot be expressed adequately
And nothing is carved out in stone
Nothing is certain or permanent
It's such a shame how we're back where we started
Our relationship has come full circle and we are now back to where we began
It's late now and time that we go
It is time for us to end this conversation and say goodbye
The rest must be lies
Anything further we say to each other will likely be dishonest or unhelpful
The rest must be lies
We cannot trust each other to be completely honest at this point
The rest must be lies
Further discussion will not change the inevitable outcome of our relationship
The rest must be lies
We can no longer communicate effectively and any further dialogue is futile
The rest must be lies
Our communication has broken down and we can no longer be truthful with each other
The rest must be lies
The only thing left to say is goodbye, as anything else will not be fruitful
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BIC (BRIOLETTE KAH) RUNGA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind