Year of the Rabbit
Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate) Lyrics


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Don't say goodnight. Is this your life, or are you
Holding on? Dear it's alright to say enough! To let your body break down.

And they will never know what broke your heart. If only I could say how sorry I felt.
Don't turn your head- it's hard enough to know it's all my fault. Yes, I regret I laid myself out when your eyes cried, "please help me darling'.

Don't say goodnight! It's not enough to get me through this night.
Don't say goodbye, it's not alright to know you're hurting and I cannot help you.
And they will never know what broke your heart. And all the words escape from out of my mouth.





Overall Meaning

The song "Year of the Rabbit" by Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate) is a heartfelt plea to someone who is struggling to cope with life's challenges. The song begins with the line "Don't say goodnight," suggesting that the singer does not want the listener to give up or surrender to their troubles. The second line, "Is this your life, or are you holding on?" is open to interpretation. It could mean that the singer is questioning whether the listener is genuinely living life or just going through the motions. Alternatively, it could imply that the listener is struggling to hold on to their life, because it feels unbearable.


The chorus is where the plea becomes most explicit. The singer acknowledges that the listener is hurting and continues to suffer, with lines like "Dear it's alright to say enough! To let your body break down." These lines suggest that the singer understands that the listener may feel the need to hold on and not give up, but that it's okay to reach a breaking point and let go. The lyrics also convey a sense of helplessness felt by the singer as they find themselves unable to do anything to ease the listener's pain. The lines "Don't say goodbye, it's not alright to know you're hurting and I cannot help you" indicate the singer's desire to be there for the listener and help them through their struggles.


Line by Line Meaning

Don't say goodnight. Is this your life, or are you Holding on?
Please don't say goodbye just yet. Are you trying to hold on to this life? Or are you struggling to let it go?


Dear it's alright to say enough! To let your body break down.
It's okay to admit when you've had enough and let your body rest and heal when it needs to.


And they will never know what broke your heart. If only I could say how sorry I felt.
No one else will ever fully understand the pain you're feeling in your heart. I wish I could express how sorry I am for what you're going through.


Don't turn your head- it's hard enough to know it's all my fault.
Please don't look away from me because I know I'm the cause of your pain and it's something that's hard for me to face.


Yes, I regret I laid myself out when your eyes cried, "please help me darling'.
I feel remorse for exposing my vulnerability when I saw the pain and sadness in your eyes and you asked for my help.


Don't say goodnight! It's not enough to get me through this night.
Saying goodbye or goodnight won't make me feel any better about what I'm going through tonight.


Don't say goodbye, it's not alright to know you're hurting and I cannot help you.
It's not okay to say goodbye when I know you're in pain and there's nothing I can do to alleviate it.


And they will never know what broke your heart. And all the words escape from out of my mouth.
No one else will ever truly understand the depth of your heartbreak, and I struggle to find the right words to express how much I care and want to help.




Contributed by Eliana T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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