How Insensitive
Flavio Mendes Lyrics
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I must have seemed
When he told me that he loved me
How unmoved and cold
I must have seemed
When he told me so sincerely
Why he must have asked
Did I just turn and stare in icy silence
What can you say
When a love affair is over?
Now he's gone away
And I'm alone
With a memory of his last look
Vague and drawn and sad
I see it still
All the heartbreak in his last look
How he must have asked,
Did I just turn and stare in icy silence
What was I to say?
What can you say
When a love affair is over?
In Flávio Mendes's song "How Insensitive," the lyrics convey a sense of emotional detachment and regret in the aftermath of a love affair coming to an end. The singer reflects on their own insensitivity when their partner expressed love, realizing now how unmoved and cold they must have appeared at the time. The lyrics suggest that the singer didn't respond to the declaration of love, instead almost freezing in silence. The singer ponders over what they should have said or could have done differently when faced with the end of the relationship.
The song explores the aftermath of the love affair, with the partner having now departed, leaving the singer alone with only memories. The memories, specifically a vivid recollection of the partner's last look, filled with sadness and pain, haunt the singer. The remorse becomes evident as the singer ponders over how they could have reacted differently, realizing the magnitude of their insensitivity. The repeated question of "What was I to say? What can you say when a love affair is over?" highlights the helplessness and confusion that can accompany the end of a relationship.
Overall, "How Insensitive" delves into the emotional aftermath of a failed love affair, exploring themes of insensitivity, regret, and the difficulty of finding the right words or actions in the face of heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
How insensitive
How emotionally detached and unfeeling
I must have seemed
I must have appeared
When he told me that he loved me
When he expressed his love for me
How unmoved and cold
How unaffected and indifferent
I must have seemed
I must have appeared
When he told me so sincerely
When he genuinely and earnestly told me
Why he must have asked
He must have wondered
Did I just turn and stare in icy silence
Did I simply look and remain silent in a cold manner
What was I to say?
What could I have said?
What can you say
What words can be uttered
When a love affair is over?
When a romantic relationship has ended?
Now he's gone away
Now he has departed
And I'm alone
And I am by myself
With a memory of his last look
With a recollection of his final expression
Vague and drawn and sad
Unclear and appearing weary and sorrowful
I see it still
I still remember it
All the heartbreak in his last look
The pain and anguish evident in his final expression
How he must have asked
How he surely wondered
Did I just turn and stare in icy silence
Did I merely gaze and remain silent in a cold manner
What was I to say?
What could I have said?
What can you say
What words can be uttered
When a love affair is over?
When a romantic relationship has ended?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Antonio Carlos Jobim, Norman Gimbel, Vinicius De Moraes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind