Heart Shaped Bruise
Elvis Costello & The Imposters Lyrics
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Or are you teasing?
I felt the cold hard facts of life
Five degrees from freezing
Does it amuse you to always
Hurt me so?
It try my best it's not enough
Should I give up and let you?
What more is there to take from me?
There's nothing else to give you, dear
There's nothing more that I can lose
Except this heart shaped bruise
It will fade
From purple to violet
It will fade
Just as the day dissolves into twilight
Tell me now
Or am I only dreaming?
You said that you'd be mine for life
And now you say you're leaving
If I could hold you once more
Before you go
When I approach you just lash out
Should I give up and let you?
What more is there to take from me?
There's nothing left give you, dear
There's nothing else that I can lose
Except this heart shaped bruise
It will fade from purple to violet
It will fade...
She's pulling out the pin
Heart Shaped Bruise is a soulful, nostalgic song by Elvis Costello & The Imposters that delves into the painful aftermath of a breakup. The lyrics express the troubles of letting go of someone whom you love deeply and still believe that they'll come back despite the pain that they've inflicted. The song's lyrics feature Costello questioning whether he should give up on his love or continue trying to mend the relationship through vivid metaphors like; "Five degrees from freezing," "purple to violet," and "day dissolving into twilight."
Throughout the song, Costello repeatedly asserts that there's nothing left to give the person who broke his heart, and ultimately the only thing they can take from him is the heart-shaped bruise that their love had inflicted upon him. The lyrics are emotive, and the melancholic melody symbolizes the weight of the memories of his lost love that he's still carrying. Costello's questioning of whether the partner is teasing him or if he's only dreaming adds complexity to the song, emphasizing the confusion and pain of a broken relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me now
Asking for immediate clarification of a situation
Or are you teasing?
Questioning whether the other person is being playful or not
I felt the cold hard facts of life
A realization of the harsh reality of a situation
Five degrees from freezing
Using a temperature metaphor to describe the distance between the two individuals
Does it amuse you to always
Questioning the motive behind the other person's hurtful actions
Hurt me so?
Expressing the pain being caused by the other person's actions
It try my best it's not enough
Self-admission of not being able to satisfy the other person
Should I give up and let you?
Asking whether it's better to end the relationship and move on
What more is there to take from me?
Expressing the feeling of being depleted
There's nothing else to give you, dear
Acknowledging that there's nothing left to offer the other person
There's nothing more that I can lose
Realizing that everything has been lost in the relationship already
Except this heart shaped bruise
The remaining pain in the heart, which is difficult to let go of
It will fade
Assurance that the pain will eventually go away
From purple to violet
Using the colors to describe the fading process of the pain
Just as the day dissolves into twilight
Comparing the fading process to the natural transition from day to night
Tell me now
Repeating the need for clarity
Or am I only dreaming?
Questioning the reality of the situation
You said that you'd be mine for life
Recalling a promise made by the other person
And now you say you're leaving
Expressing the feeling of betrayal
If I could hold you once more
Desperately wanting to cling onto the past
Before you go
Realizing that time is running out
When I approach you just lash out
Describing the aggressiveness of the other person towards one's attempt to reconcile
Should I give up and let you?
Repeating the question from earlier, as the situation has not changed
She's pulling out the pin
Referring to someone else who has control of the situation and may cause more pain
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELVIS COSTELLO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind