By her third album in 1990, Anything Is Possible, Gibson’s chart fortunes were diminishing; only the lead single, the album’s title track, made any headway, peaking at #26. It would be her final U.S. top 40 entry. She shed the wholesome teen image for 1993’s Body, Mind, Soul, and later appeared in a Playboy magazine pictorial. Despite her diminished profile, another seven albums followed between 1995 and 2022. In 2006, she reached # 24 on the U.S. adult contemporary chart with "Say Goodbye,” a duet with Jordan Knight. Gibson has also had starring roles on Broadway and touring musicals, including playing Eponine in Les Misérables and Sandy in Grease, as well as television and independent film work.
How Can This Be?
Debbie Gibson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What happened to the love we made?
We used to be so good together
And life was just a big parade
And kisses lingered like forever
Now we argue and we fight
It doesn't feel like the middle of the night
When love was all around
CHORUS:
How Can This Be?
Did you lose your heart along the way
Or did I lose me / When you got lost in me
Now the rain comes down, the sun has gone
And I don't know how this can be
The same hearts that were so free
How Can This Be?
VERSE2:
I want so bad to feel so good
I don't think we have reached our limit
I just know I don't wanna have
A single dream if you're not in it
I've grown accustomed to your face
I've grown to love you more each passing day
When did this laughter turn to pain?
CHORUS
BRIDGE:
Toy soldiers falling down
I thought we were on solid ground
Is anyone ever?
Can we sacrifice forever?
Or is the pain to much to bear
Without you in my life forever...
The lyrics of Debbie Gibson's song "How Can This Be?" express the pain and confusion of a relationship that had started off well, but has turned sour now. The singer is questioning what had happened to the love they had made and why they aren't as good together as they used to be. Life was once like a big parade and kisses lingered like forever, but now they argue and fight, and it doesn't feel the same anymore. The singer wonders if her partner had lost his heart along the way or if she had lost herself when he got lost in her. The rain comes down, the sun has gone, and she doesn't know how this can be the same hearts that were once so free.
In the second verse, the singer wants to feel good and believes that they haven't reached their limit yet. She doesn't want to have a single dream if he's not in it. She's grown accustomed to his face and loves him more with each passing day, but she's wondering when the laughter turned to pain. The bridge of the song tells us that the singer feels like toy soldiers falling down, and she wonders if they can sacrifice forever or if the pain is too much to bear without him in her life forever.
Line by Line Meaning
What happened to the love we made?
I don't understand why our love has faded
We used to be so good together
Our love was once strong and unbreakable
And life was just a big parade
We were so happy, life felt like a celebration
And kisses lingered like forever
We never wanted to let go of each other
Now we argue and we fight
Our relationship has become tumultuous
It doesn't feel like the middle of the night
Our love doesn't feel comforting anymore
When love was all around
We were deeply in love and surrounded by it
How Can This Be?
I'm confused and hurt by our failing love
Did you lose your heart along the way
Did you stop loving me or change in some way?
Or did I lose me / When you got lost in me
Did I lose sight of myself when I was consumed by our love?
Now the rain comes down, the sun has gone
Our love has reached a dark and lonely place
And I don't know how this can be
I'm struggling to understand why our love has changed so much
The same hearts that were so free
We were once so happy and in love
I want so bad to feel so good
I'm desperately seeking that happiness again
I don't think we have reached our limit
I believe our love still has untapped potential
I just know I don't wanna have
I can't imagine a future without you by my side
A single dream if you're not in it
I don't want a life that doesn't include our love
I've grown accustomed to your face
I'm used to seeing you and having you in my life
I've grown to love you more each passing day
My love for you has only grown stronger over time
When did this laughter turn to pain?
Our happy moments have turned into painful ones
Toy soldiers falling down
Our relationship now feels fragile and unstable
I thought we were on solid ground
I believed our love was strong and unwavering
Is anyone ever?
Is any relationship truly perfect?
Can we sacrifice forever?
Is it worth sacrificing our love for the long term?
Or is the pain too much to bear
Is the pain of a failing love too great to handle?
Without you in my life forever...
I can't imagine a future without our love and you in it
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