His approach to music is not different on purpose, it’s different with purpose. Twenty-eight years old and from Orangevale, California, Dawson grew up just outside the gates of Folsom Prison. He heard the sirens at night, and sang along to Johnny Cash, Alan Jackson, Marvin Gaye and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Arriving in Nashville in 2012, he put his unique skills to use authoring songs for other artists. When it came time to put together his own debut album, he teamed with equally daring producer Jay Joyce (Eric Church, Little Big Town, Brothers Osborne). Having co-written every track, the result is a mix of organic roots and high-voltage country, full of romance and delivered with a distinctive saw-toothed vocal. As he gets ready to join Maren Morris’ Hero Tour this year, Dawson is already establishing a reputation in Nashville as one of the most exciting modern singer-songwriters the format has ever seen.
Secondhand Hurt
Devin Dawson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I needed something on my lips to get me through
I didn't see this coming, when I let you go
I didn't think it'd be this hard
Getting over you
If I was the one who called it quits
Why in the hell do I feel like this?
Then tell me why am I such a goddamn mess?
If I was the one who broke your heart
Why am I so torn apart?
If I was the one who lit our love and let it burn
Why am I breathing in this secondhand hurt?
If you hated me
Maybe then it wouldn't cut so deep
Maybe then I'd get some sleep
Knowing you weren't dying, crying
Nobody told me how hard it is to be the breaker
I've always only been the broken love
If they're lovin' somebody
They both should feel the same
If I was the one who called it quits
Why in the hell do I feel like this?
If saying goodbye was for the best
Then tell me why am I such a goddamn mess?
If I was the one who broke your heart
Why am I so torn apart?
If I was the one who lit our love and let it burn
Why am I breathing in this secondhand hurt?
Oh, this secondhand hurt
Any other fool
He probably would've stayed with you
Would've waited for you to leave
Guess the joke's on me
'Cause I'm just left her wondering
If I was the one who called it quits
Why in the hell do I feel like this?
If saying goodbye was for the best
Then tell me why am I such a god damn mess
If I was the one who broke your heart
Why am I so torn apart?
If I was the one who lit our love and let it burn
Why am I breathing in this secondhand hurt?
Oh, this secondhand hurt
Devin Dawson’s “Secondhand Hurt” sings about the aftermath of a break-up, questioning why he feels so hurt and struggling to move on. He starts with the admission that it has been three months since he lit his last cigarette, but he needs something on his lips to get him through. He did not expect it to be so hard to get over her. If he was the one who ended it, he shouldn’t be so heartbroken. He wonders why he feels torn apart, even though he was the one who broke her heart and lit their love to let it burn. It's easy to be the one who is hurting, but it's hard to be the one who caused it. He would like to think that if she hated him, it wouldn't hurt so badly. He ends the song questioning why he is breathing in this secondhand hurt.
The song is essentially about the aftermath of a break-up and the emotions that come with it. How it is easy for someone to feel hurt about it, making them unable to move but also finding it hard to accept that it was their fault. By wondering this, Devin Dawson brings home the point that the pain of the breakup goes beyond just the parties involved.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been three months, since I lit one up
It's been three months since I smoked, but I needed something to help me cope.
But I needed something on my lips to get me through
I needed a way to numb my pain and feel better, even if it was just temporarily.
I didn't see this coming, when I let you go
I didn't realize how much I would hurt after ending our relationship.
I didn't think it'd be this hard
I underestimated how difficult it would be to move on.
Getting over you
Moving on from our relationship.
If I was the one who called it quits
If I was the one who ended our relationship.
Why in the hell do I feel like this?
Why do I still feel so hurt and affected by our breakup if I was the one who initiated it?
If saying goodbye was for the best
If ending our relationship was the right decision for both of us.
Then tell me why am I such a goddamn mess?
Why do I still feel so lost and hurt even though I thought ending our relationship was the right choice?
If I was the one who broke your heart
If I was the one who hurt you and caused our breakup.
Why am I so torn apart?
Why do I feel so deeply affected and hurt by our breakup if I was the one who caused it?
If I was the one who lit our love and let it burn
If I was the one who started our relationship and let it consume us both.
Why am I breathing in this secondhand hurt?
Why am I still feeling the aftermath of our relationship even though I thought I had moved on?
If you hated me
If you had strong negative feelings towards me.
Maybe then it wouldn't cut so deep
Maybe I wouldn't be as hurt and affected by our breakup if you didn't still have feelings for me.
Maybe then I'd get some sleep
Maybe I would be able to sleep properly at night if I didn't still feel so hurt and confused about our breakup.
Knowing you weren't dying, crying
Knowing that you weren't feeling the same pain as me and that you had moved on.
Nobody told me how hard it is to be the breaker
No one warned me about how much it would hurt to be the one who caused our relationship to end.
I've always only been the broken love
In past relationships, I have always been the one who was hurt and affected by the breakup, not the one who caused it.
If they're lovin' somebody
If two people are in a loving relationship.
They both should feel the same
They should both feel the same level of love and commitment towards each other, and should both be equally invested in the relationship.
Any other fool
Another person who was less invested or less affected by our relationship.
He probably would've stayed with you
That person likely wouldn't have ended our relationship.
Would've waited for you to leave
That person would have been willing to wait for you to end things instead of ending them themselves.
Guess the joke's on me
I now realize that ending our relationship was a mistake and I am the one who has been hurt the most.
Cause I'm just left here wondering
I am now left feeling lost and unsure about how to move on from our relationship.
Oh, this secondhand hurt
The lingering feelings of pain and hurt I am experiencing after the end of our relationship.
If I was the one who broke your heart
If I was the one who hurt you and caused our breakup.
Why am I so torn apart?
Why do I feel so deeply affected and hurt by our breakup if I was the one who caused it?
Oh, this secondhand hurt
The lingering feelings of pain and hurt I am experiencing after the end of our relationship.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., ME GUSTA MUSIC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Devin Dawson, Will Bowen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Endryxz
It's been three months, since I lit one up
But I needed something on my lips to get me through
I didn't see this coming, when I let you go
I didn't think it'd be this hard
Getting over you
If I was the one who called it quits
Why in the hell do I feel like this?
If saying goodbye was for the best
Then tell me why am I such a goddamn mess?
If I was the one who broke your heart
Why am I so torn apart?
If I was the one who lit our love and let it burn
Why am I breathing in this secondhand hurt?
If you hated me
Maybe then it wouldn't cut so deep
Maybe then I'd get some sleep
Knowing you weren't dying, crying
Nobody told me how hard it is to be the breaker
I've always only been the broken love
If they're lovin' somebody
They both should feel the same
If I was the one who called it quits
Why in the hell do I feel like this?
If saying goodbye was for the best
Then tell me why am I such a goddamn mess?
If I was the one who broke your heart
Why am I so torn apart?
If I was the one who lit our love and let it burn
Why am I breathing in this secondhand hurt?
Oh, this secondhand hurt, oh, oh, ooh
Any other fool
He probably would've stayed with you
Would've waited for you to leave
Guess the joke's on me
'Cause I'm just left her wondering
If I was the one who called it quits
Why in the hell do I feel like this?
If saying goodbye was for the best
Then tell me why am I such a god damn mess
If I was the one who broke your heart
Why am I so torn apart?
If I was the one who lit our love and let it burn
Why am I breathing in this secondhand hurt?
Oh, this secondhand hurt oh, oh, oh
Alexis Parent
such an underrated artist. I'm in love with your sound. You've definitely found what you're supposed to do!
Endryxz
that intro, melody, voice, instruments working to make this masterpiece
Saarraaii G
Endry Lugo yess agree!
Saarraaii G
Devin , seen your amazing talent for the first time and did the meet and greet in Clovis CA I must say the night was soo worth it, I fell in love with your songs your energy and the beautiful sound that comes out of that guitar when you play, I can’t wait to see you again Live wishing you success! God bless 💜🎵🎶 #SYMPTOMS is my favorite!
Ksenija Jemensek
Giselle Gonzalez SYMPTOMS is my favorite too ♥️🦋
Paula Jane
I love everything about this song forever 🎸😎💯❤
Adam K
This genre needs more guys like Devin!! Fantastic work!
Eric Renner
Excellent. Moving. Ingenious mix of words and music. Pure talent.
Ksenija Jemensek
Beautiful voice, beautiful and emotional lyrics ♥️
Michele LC
Beautiful voice. well done Mr.Dawson. Your lyrics are magic