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Roots
Brighter Shades Lyrics
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You know that all I ever wanted
Was a reason to exist
I needed something to grow,
I would have watered you more
If you had only let me know...
That your roots
And the search for water
Had become a search for a love
Without bind
'cause the confines of this container
Have been limiting your life
There is something you should know
I would have given you more room to grow
I could have changed,
Replaced and rearranged my life
If you had only let me know
If I could count
The times that I've
Been riddled with self-doubt,
Then I'd find
At least 100 percent of the time
You were never mine.
I just wish there was a way that I could know,
If you've been sleeping alone.
In Brighter Shade's song "Roots", the singer laments a failed relationship and expresses their regret for not being able to help their partner grow. The song begins with the singer expressing their frustration and sadness over their partner's inability to communicate their needs to them. The singer says that all they ever wanted was a reason to exist, that they needed something to grow, and that they would have done more for their partner if they had only known that their partner's "roots had dried up". The phrase "roots" here refers to the foundation of the relationship, and the "water" being the nourishment that was necessary to keep the relationship alive.
The chorus of the song is a reflection on the fact that their partner was looking for something more in life than what the singer could provide. The search for water had become a search for a love without bind, and the confines of the container (meaning the relationship) had been limiting their partner's life. The singer expresses their willingness to give their partner more room to grow and change if only they had known.
In the second verse, the singer reflects on their own self-doubt and expresses their frustration that their partner was never really theirs. The final line of the song expresses the singer's ultimate longing for knowledge of their partner's current circumstances, with the line "I just wish there was a way that I could know, if you've been sleeping alone."
Overall, "Roots" is a poignant and introspective look at a failed relationship and the regrets that come with it. It is a testament to the fact that sometimes, despite our best efforts, relationships can fail due to a lack of communication and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
I never asked for this,
I didn't choose to be in this situation.
You know that all I ever wanted
Was a reason to exist
All I wanted was a purpose in life.
I needed something to grow,
I would have watered you more
If you had only let me know...
I needed someone or something to care for, and I would have done more if I had known you were struggling.
That your roots
Had dried up
And the search for water
Had become a search for a love
Without bind
'cause the confines of this container
Have been limiting your life
You were struggling internally, searching for love and purpose, but felt confined and limited by external factors.
There is something you should know
I would have given you more room to grow
I could have changed,
Replaced and rearranged my life
If you had only let me know
I would have made sacrifices and changes to help you if only you had opened up to me.
If I could count
The times that I've
Been riddled with self-doubt,
Then I'd find
At least 100 percent of the time
You were never mine.
I've doubted myself and our relationship, realizing that you were never fully committed to me.
I just wish there was a way that I could know,
If you've been sleeping alone.
I wish I could know the truth about your current situation and if you are alone.
Contributed by Keira I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.