Pocketful of Hearts
Eddie Cochran Lyrics


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A pocketful of hearts, a-baby you collect 'em
A pocketful of hearts, and then you go and wreck 'em
A pocketful of hearts, 'cause you just neglect 'em
For a love that's new
A pocketful of hearts, crazy how you get 'em
A pocketful of hearts, a—love 'em and forget 'em
A pocketful of hearts, a-baby you condemn 'em
One more fool, me too
Play with fire and you'll get burned
The story's always true
You never dreamed a heart like yours
Could ever be so blue
A pocketful of hearts, one is gonna haunt you
A pocketful of hearts, one is gonna taunt you




A pocketful of hearts, when he doesn't want you
You'll be cryin' too

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Eddie Cochran's song "Pocketful of Hearts" speak of a person who collects hearts and then carelessly wrecks them in pursuit of a new love. The singer is addressing this person, telling them that playing with hearts is a dangerous game that will ultimately lead to heartbreak. The phrase "pocketful of hearts" is used throughout the song to symbolize the many hearts that this person has collected over time, and the many people who have been hurt as a result of their actions. The singer warns that eventually, this person will be haunted by the hearts they have discarded, and will be left alone and crying.


The song is a cautionary tale about the dangers of playing with love and the consequences of neglecting the hearts of others. The repeated use of the phrase "pocketful of hearts" emphasizes the callousness of the person being addressed and serves as a warning to listeners not to follow in their footsteps. The final lines of the song, which speak of the haunted and taunted heart, are a poignant reminder that actions have consequences and that one must be careful with the hearts of others.


Line by Line Meaning

A pocketful of hearts, a-baby you collect 'em
You gather a lot of love interests


A pocketful of hearts, and then you go and wreck 'em
You ruin these chances at love


A pocketful of hearts, 'cause you just neglect 'em
You disregard the feelings of those who love you


For a love that's new
In favor of a newer, fresher love interest


A pocketful of hearts, crazy how you get 'em
You get a lot of people interested in you


A pocketful of hearts, a-love 'em and forget 'em
You love then forget about them


A pocketful of hearts, a-baby you condemn 'em
You judge them unfairly


One more fool, me too
You're foolish for chasing after someone who won't treat you right


Play with fire and you'll get burned
If you keep playing with people's hearts, someone will eventually hurt you too


The story's always true
This is a common and predictable storyline


You never dreamed a heart like yours
You never thought you would fall in love like this


Could ever be so blue
You didn't expect to be so heartbroken


A pocketful of hearts, one is gonna haunt you
You'll always regret the way you treated someone you let go


A pocketful of hearts, one is gonna taunt you
One will come back to remind you of the love you lost


A pocketful of hearts, when he doesn't want you
When the person you want doesn't want you back


You'll be cryin' too
You'll be just as heartbroken as the people you left behind




Contributed by William P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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