Perri grew up in Bensalem, Pennsylvania (a suburb of Philadelphia) with her older brother, Nick Perri, who formerly played guitar with Shinedown, among other artists. She attended Archbishop Ryan High School, and at age 16 taught herself how to play guitar by watching a videotape of Shannon Hoon from the group Blind Melon performing on VH1.
On her 21st birthday, Perri moved to Los Angeles. Later that year she got married and began to produce music videos. She divorced 18 months later and moved back to Philadelphia toward the end of 2009. During this time, she wrote her first song, "Jar of Hearts." She moved back to Los Angeles, where she spent her time waitressing at the Melrose Cafe during the day and recording music at night.
Perri's song "Jar of Hearts" was featured on "So You Think You Can Dance" during the June 30, 2010 broadcast. The song was featured in a performance by Billy Bell and Kathryn McCormick. Perri's friend Keltie Colleen passed the song to show choreographer Stacey Tookey, and later Perri and Colleen watched the performance in the audience. Following its exposure on the show, "Jar of Hearts" sold 48,000 digital copies, debuting on the Billboard Hot 100 at #63 and reaching #28 on Billboard's Hot Digital Songs. Within a month, it sold more than 100,000 copies. Then, her music video for "Jar of Hearts" landed on the VH1 top 20 music video countdown.
Shortly after, Perri made her debut on national day time and prime time television, performing the song live on the July 10, 2010 episode of "The Early Show" on CBS as well as the July 15, 2010 episode of "So You Think You Can Dance." Perri signed a deal with Atlantic Records in July 2010. Perri recorded a five-single EP named "The Ocean Way Sessions," recorded live and released in November 2010.
Perri's debut album is titled "Lovestrong" and was released on May 10, 2011. It followed the release of its lead single, "Arms."
I Don't Wanna Break
Christina Perri Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I stayed, you were leaving
With my heart, you were stealing
I don't care, I'd let you take it
Showed up, like a good girl
I fell for your fable
But I'm no Cinderella
Put us back together
You said, it's forever
But I know you're pretending
I don't care, I'd let you take it
All again
And I just wanna love you
Don't wanna lose me
Don't wanna lose you, whoa oh
If it gets harder
Then I don't wanna break all alone
I wanna break in your
I just wanna love you
Don't wanna lose me
Don't wanna lose you, whoa oh
If it gets harder
Then I don't wanna break all alone
I wanna break in your
Whoa oh oh, whoa oh oh
(Don't wanna break in your)
And if it gets harder
Then I don't wanna break all alone
I wanna break in your arms
Sometimes, when I'm sleeping
I still, feel you breathing
You stole, all my good dreams
I don't care, I'd let you take it
Come on, listen closely
To the sound, that our love made
If you go, I would follow
I don't care, I'd let you take it,
All again
I just wanna love you
Don't wanna lose me
Don't wanna lose you, whoa oh
If it gets harder
Then I don't wanna break all alone
I wanna break in your
And I just wanna love you
Don't wanna lose me
Don't wanna lose you, whoa oh
If it gets harder
Then I don't wanna break all alone
I wanna break in your
Whoa oh oh, whoa oh oh, whoa oh
And if it gets harder
Then I don't wanna break all alone
I wanna break in your
Whoa oh oh, whoa oh oh (Don't wanna break in your)
Whoa oh oh (Don't wanna break in your arms)
Whoa oh oh (Don't wanna break in your)
Whoa oh oh (Don't wanna break in your arms)
Whoa oh oh (Don't wanna break in your arms)
Whoa oh oh (Don't wanna break in your arms)
Whoa oh oh, whoa oh
And I just wanna love you
Don't wanna lose me
Don't wanna lose you, whoa oh
If it gets harder
Then I don't wanna break all alone
I wanna break in your arms
The song "I Don't Wanna Break" by Christina Perri is a melancholic and haunting ballad that speaks to the fear of losing the person we love. The lyrics are about the pain of being in love with someone who you know cannot or will not reciprocate the love you have for them. The singer sings about waking up from a bad dream in which the person she loves is leaving her, taking her heart with them. Despite knowing that this person is pretending, she is willing to let them take her heart all over again, simply because she loves them.
In the second verse, the singer talks about how she still feels the person breathing when she is sleeping, and how they have stolen all of her good dreams. She pleads with them to stay, saying that she would follow them anywhere, just to keep them close. Ultimately, the message of the song is that love can be both a blessing and a curse, and that it takes bravery to love someone fully, knowing that they may not feel the same way.
Overall, "I Don't Wanna Break" is a heartbreaking song about the difficulties of being in love with someone who cannot or will not love you back. The song captures the pain and uncertainty of unrequited love, and the courage it takes to continue loving someone even in the face of rejection.
Line by Line Meaning
Woke up from such a bad dream
She had a bad dream, maybe one where her lover leaves and steals her heart.
I stayed, you were leaving
She was there while her lover was leaving.
With my heart, you were stealing
Her lover was taking her heart away from her.
I don't care, I'd let you take it
Despite knowing the truth, she still let her lover take her heart away from her.
Showed up, like a good girl
She was obedient and listened to her lover.
I fell for your fable
She believed her lover's lies and was deceived by them.
But I'm no Cinderella
She is strong and independent, unlike the helpless and dependent Cinderella.
Put us back together
Her lover suggested to fix their relationship.
You said, it's forever
Her lover promised that their relationship will last forever.
But I know you're pretending
She realized that her lover was just pretending and not really committed to their relationship.
All again
Despite the realization, she is willing to start over and try again.
And I just wanna love you
She wants to give love to her lover.
Don't wanna lose me
She doesn't want to lose herself in the process of loving her lover.
Don't wanna lose you, whoa oh
She also doesn't want to lose her lover.
If it gets harder
If their relationship becomes even more difficult.
Then I don't wanna break all alone
She doesn't want to go through the pain of breaking up alone.
I wanna break in your
She wants to experience the breakup with her lover.
Sometimes, when I'm sleeping
Even when she's sleeping, she dreams of her lover and their broken relationship.
I still, feel you breathing
She still feels connected to her lover and their relationship.
You stole, all my good dreams
Her lover took away all her happiness and good dreams.
Come on, listen closely
She wants her lover to pay attention.
To the sound, that our love made
She wants her lover to listen and remember the happy times in their relationship.
If you go, I would follow
She would follow wherever her lover goes.
All again
She is still willing to try again.
Whoa oh oh, whoa oh oh
Refrain
(Don't wanna break in your)
She wants to experience the breakup with her lover.
And if it gets harder
If their relationship becomes even more difficult.
Then I don't wanna break all alone
She doesn't want to go through the pain of breaking up alone.
I wanna break in your arms
She wants to experience the pain with her lover.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JACK ANTONOFF, CHRISTINA PERRI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vantrinh736
Woke up such a bad dream
I stayed, you were leaving
With my heart, you were stealing
I don't care, I'd let you take it
Showed up, like a good girl
I fell for your fable
But I'm no Cinderella
I don't care, I'd let you take it
Put us back together
You said, it's forever
But I know you're pretending
I don't care, I'd let you take it
All again
And I just wanna love you
Don't wanna lose me
Don't wanna lose you, whoa oh
If it gets harder
Then I don't wanna break all alone
I wanna break in your
I just wanna love you
Don't wanna lose me
Don't wanna lose you, whoa oh
If it gets harder
Then I don't wanna break all alone
I wanna break in your
Whoa oh oh, whoa oh oh
(Don't wanna break in your)
And if it gets harder
Then I don't wanna break all alone
I wanna break in your arms…
Sometimes, when I'm sleeping
I still, feel you breathing
You stole, all my good dreams
I don't care, I'd let you take it
Come on, listen closely
To the sound, that our love made
If you go, I would follow
I don't care, I'd let you take it,
All again
I just wanna love you
Don't wanna lose me
Don't wanna lose you, whoa oh
If it gets harder
Then I don't wanna break all alone
I wanna break in your
And I just wanna love you
Don't wanna lose me
Don't wanna lose you, whoa oh
If it gets harder
Then I don't wanna break all aloneI wanna break in yourWhoa oh oh, whoa oh oh, whoa ohAnd if it gets harderThen I don't wanna break all aloneI wanna break in yourWhoa oh oh, whoa oh oh (Don't wanna break in your)Whoa oh oh (Don't wanna break in your arms)Whoa oh oh (Don't wanna break in your)Whoa oh oh (Don't wanna break in your arms)Whoa oh oh (Don't wanna break in your arms)Whoa oh oh (Don't wanna break in your arms)Whoa oh oh, whoa ohAnd I just wanna love youDon't wanna lose meDon't wanna lose you, whoa ohIf it gets harderThen I don't wanna break all aloneI wanna break in your arms
@ramemomi
It maybe not the best song from her but it's definitely good and what makes it so special is its originality and the way it is produced, no auto-tune and you could actually listen to the instruments play behind her voice, it really differs from the stuff that's currently in the mainstream and that makes both of the song and her so special and unique. Well done Christina.
@LSSTmusic
i know this comment is 9 years old but holy shit this is exactly like what was popular back in 2014 lmao
@Lim-tl3ff
Listening again after 6 years....and I Still love it👍👍
@vipulbhatia8364
No matter what type of song she sings,it reaches my heart every damn time :D
@slaminjamin3549
This is the happiest sounding song that is actually tragic if you pay attention to the lyrics ......its almost like the song is someone smiling through the pain of unrequited love.
@rickyiglesias5384
my favorite part is the ending when the beat goes to half-time. so freaking awesome.
@kailew951
Yes, it is very different than her other songs but I think it is so great and catchy and it actually has meaning! Yes, meaning!! Who thought that good songs could actually have a meaning behind them?! Lol.. That's just one of the many reasons why I love Christina so much!
@MatheusMorgao
A cada dia mais perfeita <3
@vivianr5384
Me gusta esta canción ya me quiero comprar el álbum !!! :)
@bumblebeebri7400
I love the sound of this song. The music and how your voice sounds... It's just one of those songs that's perfect to get ready to because it just make me feel good when I hear it! Plus I just love everything about it :) so great Christina! Head or heart keeps getting better and better and I'm so excited!