The song was recorded in the same year by Juice Newton, whose version reached #86 on the Billboard Hot 100.
It's a Heartache
Bonnie Tyler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothing but a heartache
Hits you when it's too late
Hits you when you're down
It's a fool's game
Nothing but a fool's game
Standing in the cold rain
It's a heartache
Nothing but a heartache
Love him 'til your arms break
Then he let's you down
It ain't right with love to share
When you find he doesn't care for you
It ain't wise to need someone
As much as I depended on you
Oh, it's a heartache
Nothing but a heartache
Hits you when it's too late
Hits you when you're down
It's a fool's game
Nothing but a fool's game
Standing in the cold rain
Feeling like a clown
It ain't right with love to share
When you find he doesn't care for you
It ain't wise to need someone
As much as I depended on you
Oh, it's a heartache
Nothing but a heartache
You love him 'til your arms break
Then he let's you down
It's a fool's game
Standing in the cold rain
Feelin' like a clown
It's a heartache
Love him 'til your arms break
Then he let's you down
It's a fool's game
The song "It's a Heartache" is a powerful ballad about the struggles of love and heartbreak. The opening lines "It's a heartache, nothing but a heartache" emphasize the pain and sorrow that comes along with loving someone who cannot reciprocate those feelings. The lyrics discuss the moment when the heartache hits, which is often when it is too late to go back or make amends. The verse "Love him 'til your arms break, then he let's you down" describes the exhaustion and frustration that comes with loving someone endlessly, only to be disappointed in the end.
The song also references the foolishness of love. The line "It's a fool's game, nothing but a fool's game" suggests that loving someone who cannot love you back is a game that cannot be won, and that pursuing such a love is foolish. The imagery of "standing in the cold rain, feeling like a clown" emphasizes the vulnerability and humiliation that comes with chasing after such a love.
Overall, "It's a Heartache" is a deeply emotional and relatable song about the struggles of love and heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a heartache
The pain and misery of a broken heart that leaves you feeling empty and alone
Nothing but a heartache
The emotional pain that comes with losing the one you love
Hits you when it's too late
The heartbreak often comes after it's too late to prevent it
Hits you when you're down
The misery of heartbreak can feel even worse when you're already feeling low
It's a fool's game
Love can sometimes feel like a game where someone always loses
Nothing but a fool's game
The heartbreak that comes with falling for someone who doesn't love you back
Standing in the cold rain
The loneliness and despair that comes with being left out in the cold
Feeling like a clown
The embarrassment and shame of being made a fool of for love
Love him 'til your arms break
The intensity of love that makes you give everything you have to someone
Then he let's you down
The disappointment and disillusionment that comes with realizing the person you love doesn't share your feelings
It ain't right with love to share
Love is not genuine when it's not reciprocated
When you find he doesn't care for you
When you realize the person you love does not love you back
It ain't wise to need someone
Relying on someone too much can lead to heartbreak when they leave
As much as I depended on you
The danger of becoming so dependent on someone that you can't function without them
Lyrics © Budde Music Publishing GmbH, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ronnie James Scott, Steve Wolfe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kermitdafrog7533
It's a heartache
Nothing but a heartache
Hits you when it's too late
Hits you when you're down
It's a fool's game
Nothing but a fool's game
Standing in the cold rain
Feeling like a clown
It's a heartache
Nothing but a heartache
Love him 'til your arms break
Then he lets you down
It ain't right with love to share
When you find he doesn't care for you
It ain't wise to need someone
As much as I depended on you
Oh, it's a heartache
Nothing but a heartache
Hits you when it's too late
Hits you when you're down
It's a fool's game
Nothing but a fool's game
Standing in the cold rain
Feeling like a clown
It ain't right with love to share
When you find he doesn't care for you
It ain't wise to need someone
As much as I depended on you
Oh, it's a heartache
Nothing but a heartache
Love him 'til your arms break
Then he lets you down
It's a fool's game
Standing in the cold rain
Feeling like a clown
It's a heartache
Love him 'til your arms break
Then he lets you down
It's a fool's game
Standing in the cold rain
@reubprue8602
Lyrics
It's a heartache
Nothing but a heartache
Hits you when it's too late
Hits you when you're down
It's a fool's game
Nothing but a fools game
Standing in the cold rain
Feeling like a clown
It's a heartache
Nothing but a heartache
Love him 'till your arms break
Then he lets you down
It ain't right with love to share
When you find he doesn't care for you
It ain't wise to need someone
As much as I depended on you
It's a heartache
Nothing but a heartache
Hits you when it's too late
Hits you when you're down
It's a fool's game
Nothing but a fools game
Standing in the cold rain
Feeling like a clown
It ain't right with love to share
When you find he doesn't care for you
It ain't wise to need someone
As much as I depended on you
Oh, it's a heartache
Nothing but a heartache
Hits you when it's too late
Hits you when you're down
It's a fools game
Standing in the cold rain
Feeling like a clown
It's a heartache
@teresaunderwood2632
One night, many moons ago on a balmy July night (being the music loving teenager that I was) sitting in the family station wagon listening to music and this song came on, one of my favorites at the time. Then out comes my dad from the house. I just knew he was gonna tell me to turn off the music and for me to get my butt in the house. To my surprise, he sat in the passenger seat and said "Turn it up!" I was kinda shocked because he hated my music lol. That was over 40 years ago and he is no longer here but I will never forget sharing that special moment in time with my dad.
@AERIALPHOTO123
Thanks for sharing your story Teresa
@albertpparker
As a Dad, I really appreciated that little story........
@teresaunderwood2632
Thanks guys, I miss him every single day.
@deppdelver
I connected with my mom much the same way over Eleanor Rigby. Thanks for helping me remember, Teresa.
@teresaunderwood2632
@@deppdelver YW
@jessicajagger9676
Who’s here in 2024!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
@user-ix7rl1fv7z
I am here listening to a brilliant voice just love her
@marcioribeirosilva3987
Brasil. Fã número um dessa sempre musa.👏👏👏👏💙💙🇧🇷
@marcioribeirosilva3987
Essa é a música da minha vida. 63 anos.