Only Love Can Break Your Heart
Crosby Nash & Young Lyrics


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When you were young
And on your own
How did it feel to be alone?
I was always thinking of games
That I was playing
Trying to make the best of my time

But only love can break your heart
Try to be sure right from the start
Yes, only love can break your heart
What if your world should fall apart?

I have a friend I've never seen
He hides his head inside a dream
Someone should call him and see
If he can come out
Try to lose the down that he's found

But only love can break your heart
Try to be sure right from the start
Yes, only love can break your heart
What if your world should fall apart?

I have a friend I've never seen
He hides his head inside a dream

Yes, only love can break your heart
Yes, only love can break your heart
Yes, only love can break your heart




Yes, only love can break your heart
Yes, only love can break your heart

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" describe the personal experience of Neil Young when he was going through a tough time dealing with romantic relationships. The opening lines "When you were young and on your own. How did it feel to be alone?" suggest Young's longing for a simpler time in life where he was free from the complexities of relationships. He goes on to describe his attempts to distract himself with games and making the best of his time. However, the chorus "Only love can break your heart" reveals the true nature of his emotions. Young acknowledges that love is both beautiful and fragile, and that it can cause pain and heartbreak.


In the subsequent verses, Young mentions a friend he has never met who hides his head inside a dream, perhaps to escape from reality. He implies that this friend also needs to face the truth about love, because only then can he leave behind the burdens that weigh him down.


Overall, "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" is a poignant song that captures the essence of heartbreak and the power of love to make or break a person. It urges listeners to confront their feelings, both good and bad, in order to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them.


Line by Line Meaning

When you were young
Reflecting on a time when you were naive and inexperienced


And on your own
Being independent and not relying on anyone else


How did it feel to be alone
Wondering about the emotions of being by oneself


I was always thinking of games
Distracting oneself with trivial things when feeling lonely


That I was playing
The games being played to avoid feelings of solitude


Trying to make the best of my time
Attempting to be productive during solitude


But only love can break your heart
Acknowledging the fact that love is a powerful and dangerous emotion


Try to be sure right from the start
Being careful and cautious when beginning a romantic relationship


Yes, only love can break your heart
Reaffirming the destructiveness of love


What if your world should fall apart
Contemplation of the consequences if love goes wrong


I have a friend I've never seen
The idea of having a friend but never meeting them in person


He hides his head inside a dream
The friend escapes reality by dreaming instead of confronting issues


Someone should call him and see
Attempting to reach out and support the friend


If he can come out
Encouraging the friend to face the problems head-on


Trying to lose the down that he's found
The friend is struggling and trying to overcome their negative thoughts


Yes, only love can break your heart
Reiterating the fact that love can be painful and damaging


Yes, only love can break your heart
Emphasizing that love is a fragile and dangerous thing


Yes, only love can break your heart
Stressing that love is not something to be taken lightly


Yes, only love can break your heart
Final reminder that love has the power to destroy




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Neil Young

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Perry Sconzert

AWESOME live version of real music from an original master and his friends !!!

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