Goapele attended the Berkeley Arts Magnet School in Berkeley, California. During these years, she joined several groups that fought racism and sexism. She also sang in the Oakland Youth Choir and joined a group called Vocal Motion. After graduating from high school, Goapele attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where she studied music theory.
In 2001, she signed with Skyblaze Recordings/Columbia Records, and in 2002, she released her first album Even Closer, featuring the single "Closer". She co-wrote and co-produced the entire album, which is a mixture of neo soul and jazz. She also toured North America with band Spearhead.
Apart from her solo work, she has collaborated with rappers Aceyalone, E-40, Hieroglyphics, and Triple Threat, and written for jazz trio Soulive.
Her second album Change It All, featuring the single "First Love", was released in December 2005.
Battle of the Heart
Goapele Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But it's yours for taking
I'm losing the battle of the heart
Every time it turns to spring
I think of you again and how I long to fly, fly free
I'm standing at the edge of something beautiful
But it hurts to try I'm scared it won't arrive
But it's yours for taking
I'm losing the battle of the heart, oh umm hum oh
I'm losing the battle of the heart, umm oh
I don't want to surrender
But that's when I can commend this thing
There always comes this sweet hello
And I feel way too far
On the edge of something beautiful
I never realized
Just how to separate the two
Fantasy from truth and running into you
Then all of the reasons keep flashing before me
But I can't do and I thought I was through
The feeling was done, the battle was over, it's not over
I'm losing the battle of the heart, oh
Is it crazy I thought I could win, oh
I'm losing the battle of the heart, oh oh
Goapele's song "Battle of the Heart" tells the story of a person who is struggling to move on from a past relationship. At the start of the song, the singer mournfully sings "How can I go on, dawn is breaking, But it's yours for taking", which shows the singer wanting to hold on to the past and their former partner. The line "I'm losing the battle of the heart" also serves to show their inability to let go.
The following lyrics, "I'm standing at the edge of something beautiful, But it hurts to try, I'm scared it won't arrive, Love everlasting but the dawn is breaking" paint an image of the singer standing at the edge of a new opportunity or love but feeling afraid that it will not work out. The singer conveys the struggle between wanting to move forward and fearing that they will get hurt again.
The repeated line "I'm losing the battle of the heart" emphasizes the theme of internal conflict and the struggle to move on. The song ends on a note of uncertainty and conflict, with the singer admitting that they thought they had moved on but are still struggling with their feelings.
Overall, "Battle of the Heart" is a poignant exploration of heartache and the difficulties of moving on from a past relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
How can I go on, dawn is breaking
Despite the new day dawning, I'm struggling to move forward.
But it's yours for taking
You have the power to take the love that I cannot keep.
I'm losing the battle of the heart
I'm unable to win the fight against my feelings for you.
Every time it turns to spring
With every new beginning, I'm reminded of you.
I think of you again and how I long to fly, fly free
Thoughts of you make me yearn for freedom and release from this struggle.
I'm standing at the edge of something beautiful
I'm at the cusp of a new, potentially amazing experience.
But it hurts to try I'm scared it won't arrive
I'm afraid to pursue this opportunity, fearing it won't come to fruition.
Love everlasting but the dawn is breaking
My love for you is an enduring force, but time and circumstances are changing.
I don't want to surrender
I'm not ready to give up on this even if it's difficult.
But that's when I can commend this thing
Acknowledge the strength of my love even in the midst of my struggles.
There always comes this sweet hello
Whenever we meet again, it feels like a lovely new beginning.
And I feel way too far
But I'm still struggling to truly move on from you.
I never realized
I'm just now understanding the depth of my feelings for you.
Just how to separate the two
I don't know how to differentiate between the good and bad aspects of my love.
Fantasy from truth and running into you
I'm trying to figure out if my dreams of you align with reality, and if I should keep meeting you.
Then all of the reasons keep flashing before me
Good and bad aspects of my love continue to arise in my thoughts.
But I can't do and I thought I was through
I can't walk away from this even though I thought I could.
The feeling was done, the battle was over, it's not over
I thought I could move on but my feelings for you are still intense and strong.
Is it crazy I thought I could win
I hoped I could overcome this, but now I'm questioning if I ever could.
oh oh
This is the sound of emotional struggle that persists.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GOAPELE K. MOHLABANE, OMMAS KEITH-GRAHAM, SHAFIQ A. HUSAYN, TAZ ARNOLD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind