In 2007 she worked with Nashville-based producer/engineer Giles Reaves (Patty Griffin, Chantal Kreviazuk) on her self-titled debut album. The album was recorded as a three-man project with Reaves providing drums/keyboards, Ryan Tilby providing bass, and Fotheringham on all guitars, percussion, and vocals. That summer she toured extensively around the United States and Europe, from Seattle to New York to Paris, including an invitation to perform in Long Island, NY as the featured artist for the 10,000 subscribers of the worldâs largest acoustic podcast.[1]
Subtraction
Debra Fotheringham Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just like that.
In seconds flat.
Reaction. I had none.
No more to add.
Gone from have to had.
The timid talks and my lipstick.
July just wasn't enough.
In my plans it was never this rough.
Math is not my strong suit.
I don't know pi from a square root.
But I know subtraction.
Subtraction and we're gone.
And all of the trust
Has turned to dust.
Distractions, they were wrong.
No more to say.
Last look, walk away.
I read this in a book.
They said pages in one look.
But I saw just one thing.
And I knew the meaning.
Math is not my strong suit.
I don't know pi from a square root.
But I know subtraction.
You say two can care
And still not make a pair
And I say love just ain't fair.
Love is not my strong suit.
It never seems to take root.
But I know subtraction.
The song "Subtraction" by Debra Fotheringham is a heartbreaking ballad about the end of a relationship. The opening lines of the song, "Subtraction and you're gone. Just like that. In seconds flat," set the tone for the melancholic song. The singer laments the fact that the person she was with has left her without any warning or explanation. She expresses her inability to react to the abrupt departure and feels the absence of the person who was once an integral part of her life.
The chorus of the song highlights the fact that love is not always fair and can often leave one heartbroken. The singer talks about how all the trust she had in the relationship has now turned to dust, and distractions that they shared were wrong. She acknowledges that two people can care for each other and still not be a pair, and that love just isn't fair. The final lines of the song, "But I know subtraction," signify that the singer has accepted the reality of the separation and is ready to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Subtraction and you're gone.
You left me and our relationship with just one simple action: subtraction.
Just like that.
It happened so quickly and suddenly.
In seconds flat.
It happened in just a few moments.
Reaction. I had none.
I didn't have any strong feelings or response to your leaving.
No more to add.
There is nothing more to say or do to add to our relationship.
Gone from have to had.
From having you to not having you was a big loss.
June passed by so quick.
Time moved so fast in June.
The timid talks and my lipstick.
We had shy conversations and I always wore lipstick around you.
July just wasn't enough.
The month of July went by too fast.
In my plans it was never this rough.
I didn't plan for our relationship to end so suddenly and painfully.
Math is not my strong suit.
I'm not very good at math.
I don't know pi from a square root.
I struggle with basic math concepts.
But I know subtraction.
However, I know what it means to subtract something.
Subtraction and we're gone.
Both of us ended things using subtraction.
And all of the trust
All the trust and faith that we had
Has turned to dust.
Has vanished away, leaving behind nothing but dust.
Distractions, they were wrong.
The things that kept us busy or occupied were not important.
No more to say.
We have nothing else to talk about.
Last look, walk away.
We take one last glance and leave each other's lives.
I read this in a book.
I once read about this in a book.
They said pages in one look.
The author suggested reading several pages at once.
But I saw just one thing.
But when I read, I saw only one thing that mattered.
And I knew the meaning.
I understand the significance and importance of that one thing.
You say two can care
You believe that two people can care for each other
And still not make a pair
But that doesn't mean they belong together.
And I say love just ain't fair.
In my opinion, love doesn't treat everyone equally and fairly.
Love is not my strong suit.
I have difficulty with understanding and feeling love.
It never seems to take root.
Love never seems to thrive or grow in my life.
But I know subtraction.
But I understand the concept of removing love and ending a relationship.
Contributed by Josiah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.