The single failed to make the top 40 on the UK Official Charts on its initial release. It was however re-released in the summer of 1990 with "Sacrifice" as the A-side. The double-sided record became Elton John's first #1 single in the UK and France. It stayed at the top of the charts for five weeks, selling more than 600,000 units in the UK alone.
Healing Hands
Elton John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That ain't like a man
I could fly like a bird somedays
Had a place where I could land
I could have sworn we were all locked in
Ain't that what you said
I never knew it could hurt so bad
But giving into the nightime
Ain't no cure for the pain
You gotta wade into the water
You gotta learn to live again
Chorus
And reach out for her healing hands
Reach out for her healing hands
There's a light, where the darkness ends,
Touch me now and let me see again,
Rock me now in your gentle healing hands
I never knew love like poison
That burned like a fire
All I ever wanted was a reason
To drowm in your eyes
I never knew sleep so restless
Empty arms so cold
That's not the way it's supposed to be
It ain't the spell that I was sold
But giving into the nightime
Ain't no cure for the pain
You gotta wade into the water
You gotta learn to live again
And reach out for her healing hands
Reach out for her healing hands
There's a light, where the darkness ends,
Touch me now and let me see again,
Rock me now in your gentle healing hands
But giving into the nightime
Ain't no cure for the pain
You gotta wade into the water
You gotta learn to live again
Reach out for her healing hands
Reach out for her healing hands
There's a light, where the darkness ends,
Touch me now and let me see again,
Rock me now in your gentle healing hands
Reach out for her healing hands
Reach out for her healing hands
There's a light, where the darkness ends,
Touch me now and let me see again,
Rock me now in your gentle healing hands
Reach out for her healing hands
Reach out for her healing hands
There's a light, where the darkness ends,
Touch me now and let me see again,
Rock me now in your gentle healing hands
The lyrics of "Healing Hands" by Elton John express the pain and hurt caused by lost love. The singer is mourning the end of a relationship that he never knew could bring him so much pain. He feels vulnerable and weak as he cries and searches for a way to heal from the hurt. The idea of being locked in is used as a metaphor to convey the feeling of being trapped in the pain of the broken relationship. The singer is looking for a way out, a cure for the pain, and this is where the image of wading into the water comes in. The water represents a rebirth or renewal, a chance to start again and learn to live without the love that is lost. The idea of reaching out for someone's healing hands is a powerful image of hope and salvation. It suggests that love can still heal, and the singer is willing to give it another chance.
The chorus of the song stresses the power of love to heal and restore. It suggests that there is light where darkness ends, and that touch from someone's healing hands can make one see again. The image of being rocked in someone's gentle healing hands is a sign of comfort and reassurance. The singer is seeking this comfort and reassurance in the hope of healing from the hurt caused by the loss of love.
Overall, "Healing Hands" is a poignant expression of the need for love and the pain caused by its absence. It's a song that acknowledges the hurt that comes with the end of a relationship, yet it offers hope and a way forward for those who find themselves in this situation.
Line by Line Meaning
I never dreamed I could cry so hard
I didn't think I could cry this much
That ain't like a man
It's not typical for a man to cry this much
I could fly like a bird somedays
Every now and then I felt like I could do anything
Had a place where I could land
I had somewhere to turn to when things got tough
I could have sworn we were all locked in
I believed we were in this together
Ain't that what you said
Didn't you promise we would make it through?
I never knew it could hurt so bad
I didn't expect it to be this painful
When the power of love is dead
When our love no longer has the strength to survive
But giving into the nightime
However, succumbing to darkness
Ain't no cure for the pain
Won't alleviate the pain
You gotta wade into the water
You must immerse yourself in the experience
You gotta learn to live again
And learn how to go on with life
And reach out for her healing hands
Find comfort in her touch
There's a light, where the darkness ends,
A glimmer of hope as the darkness fades
Touch me now and let me see again,
Let me feel alive again
Rock me now in your gentle healing hands
Embrace me in your soothing touch
I never knew love like poison
I didn't realize love could hurt like poison
That burned like a fire
That scorched my heart like flames
All I ever wanted was a reason
All I ever needed was a reason to love
To drown in your eyes
To get lost in your loving gaze
I never knew sleep so restless
I never had such sleepless nights
Empty arms so cold
Lonely arms that long for your embrace
That's not the way it's supposed to be
This isn't how things were supposed to turn out
It ain't the spell that I was sold
This isn't the love I thought I was getting
Reach out for her healing hands
Seek comfort in her touch once more
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERNIE TAUPIN, ELTON JOHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DEK-ic7yv
This was on the radio in 1989 when my husband and I were leaving the hospital after our 3 day old son died. I felt it was a sign -- the lyrics were/are meaningful. Still listen to it 31 years later.
@maireza9414
so sorry for your loss
@paulpaolini3823
I’m so sorry
@thrillhausen8858
🖤💟
@thestone3848
Wow! 😶
I'm so sorry..!
@nasheepeters6490
Oh my heart 🥺💔
@leftyvangogh407
"There's a light, where the darkness ends." Beautiful song.
@Gasoline85
Words to live by.
@marionavarro6922
Existe una luz donde la oscuridad termina...great...!
@catscan2022
I always felt this should have featured in rocketman instead of I'm still standing. Very uplifting and optimistic and more in time with the real timeline in which he kicked the drugs and the booze