Careless Love
Bonnie "Prince" Billy Lyrics


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I wrote a careless love
"Love me not for I'm above
Above a cloud all flat and white
And with another love tonight"
And then a careless love
By weighty cloud above
Was ground into the floor
To loving breathe no more

Lady as I leave you
Limp on the floor
Distorting our voices
Slamming the door
I say sorry
I say bye bye




I say miss you
I say cry cry

Overall Meaning

The song "Careless Love" by Bonnie "Prince" Billy is a heartbreaking ballad about the weight of love and the pain it can bring. The lyrics reveal an individual's struggle with the consequences of loving carelessly, leading to the loss of someone they held dear. The line "Love me not for I'm above" implies that the singer is aware of their flaws and issues that could cause harm to their lover. They feel unworthy and undeserving of love, hoping to be left alone. "Above a cloud all flat and white" is a figurative description of a cloudless day when everything seems perfect, but the singer is ignorant of their partner who waits for them to return.


The lyrics continue with the phrase, "And with another love tonight," highlighting the detachment and feeling of guilt that the singer holds within them. As the song proceeds, the weighty cloud above symbolizes the emotional baggage that results from carelessness. The singer regrets their actions, and they are now trapped in a void of despair, represented by the phrase "To loving breathe no more." The final verse of the song is the singer's attempt at reconciliation, where they lament the loss of their lover and apologize for the pain they caused. The closing lines, "I say sorry, I say bye-bye, I say miss you, I say cry cry," are a poignant reminder of the regret that follows careless actions and the pain they leave behind.


Line by Line Meaning

I wrote a careless love
I made the mistake of falling in love hastily and irresponsibly


"Love me not for I'm above
"Do not love me as I am too high above and cannot reciprocate your feelings"


Above a cloud all flat and white
I am so high up that I am looking down at the clouds


And with another love tonight"
"I am leaving you for someone else tonight"


And then a careless love
Then I fell in love recklessly and without caution again


By weighty cloud above
I was so high up that I got weighed down by the heaviness of the cloud


Was ground into the floor
I was brought back down to earth and my love was destroyed


To loving breathe no more
My love was extinguished and cannot be revived


Lady as I leave you
As I depart from you, my lady


Limp on the floor
You are weakened and powerless


Distorting our voices
Our voices are becoming distorted and hard to hear


Slamming the door
I am rudely and forcefully closing the door behind me


I say sorry
I apologize for any harm I caused


I say bye bye
I am saying goodbye


I say miss you
I will miss you


I say cry cry
I expect you to cry as I leave, knowing I caused you pain




Writer(s): Will Oldham

Contributed by Natalie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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