Emma Pollock is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Scotland. She was … Read Full Bio ↴Emma Pollock is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Scotland. She was a founding member of The Delgados. She signed a solo recording contract with the 4AD label in 2005 after the amicable split of the band. Her first solo album, Watch The Fireworks, was released on September 17, 2007.

She continues to be involved in the influential Glasgow based label Chemikal Underground. A second solo album, The Law of Large Numbers, was released by the label on March 1, 2010. Her third solo album, In Search of Harperfield, was released on January 29, 2016.

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I Could Be A Saint
Emma Pollock Lyrics

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Don't say that everything is easy
When I know that everything is hard
I will be your saint or your sinner
I will be whatever plays the part

Don't say that everything is easy
When you don't know the effort I put in
I will be your saint or your sinner

I will be whatever lets you win

You are the painter and I am the painted
But your proclamation has left this thing tainted

How you gonna break my heart
When you've never even made my day?
How you gonna make me pay
When I've given all I had away?
And all of it gave was true
And none of it I gave to you

So you can count the ways in which I love you
And I confess I've yet to find them out
But I have plans to get myself enlightened
I will try not to miss any of them out

You're sending roses while I'm seeking refuge
You're bending backwards while I'm heading homewards

How you gonna break my heart
When you've never even made my day?
How you gonna make me pay
When I've given all I had away?
And all of it gave was true
And none of it I gave to you

How you gonna break my heart
When you've never even made my day?
How you gonna make me pay
When I've given all I had away?

And all of it gave was true
But none of it I gave to you

Overall Meaning

Emma Pollock's song "I Could Be A Saint" is a story of unrequited love, and the frustration that comes with it. The song begins with the singer acknowledging that life is not easy, despite the assumption that it might be for some people. She is willing to play any role that is required of her, whether it be a saint or a sinner, in order to win the love she desires. However, she also wants her love interest to understand the effort she is putting in, and not assume that everything is easy for her.

The singer of the song is frustrated with her love interest's lack of effort in their relationship. She feels that she has given her everything to the relationship, but it has not been reciprocated. She questions how her love interest can break her heart when they have never even made her day. She feels that she has given her all to the relationship, and yet her efforts have not been appreciated.

The chorus of the song is repeated several times, with the singer questioning how her love interest can break her heart and make her pay when all she has ever given has been true. She feels that she has not given anything to her love interest, despite giving her everything to the relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't say that everything is easy
When you don't know the effort I put in

When I know that everything is hard
I understand the difficulty involved

I will be your saint or your sinner
I am willing to meet any expectation you may have of me

I will be whatever plays the part
I am willing to adapt to any situation

You are the painter and I am the painted
You are in control of the relationship

But your proclamation has left this thing tainted
Your words have damaged our connection

How you gonna break my heart
Why would you hurt me like this?

When you've never even made my day?
You've never done anything meaningful for me

How you gonna make me pay
What have I done to deserve this treatment?

When I've given all I had away?
I have put everything into this relationship

And all of it gave was true
My love for you was genuine