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.
Tears On My Pillow
Goapele Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How you could love someone and leave them
It must be hard to be a man
Holding back so many feelings
I saw you slip away
Long before you gave reasons
Couldn't hold you down if you wanted to go
My tears land straight on my pillow
Each time I try
My tears land straight on my pillow
Each time I try
My tears land straight on my pillow
Cause there's no other way for me to let go
I didn't wanna even care
I didn't wanna even miss you
Cause you told me you'd be there
Now should I even try to reach you?
I look in the mirror
I see your face in mine
And it's much clearer now
I need you in my life
But, each time I try
My tears land straight on that pillow
Each time I try
My tears land straight on that pillow
Each time I try
My tears land straight on that pillow
Cause there's no other way for me to let go
I see it in your eyes
Your laugh is a disguise
It used to be magic to me
You're giving me no choice
I hear it in your voice
And it's so sad to me
But I think forgiveness is the season
Wish you could stay I have my reasons
I'm still trying to hold on
To something that's gone
Can't make you stay here with me
Oh but each time I try
It's like I'm crying in vain
Each time I try
My tears land straight on that pillow
Each time I try
My tears land straight on that pillow
Cause there's no other way for me to let go
Each time I try
My tears land straight on that pillow
Each time I try
My tears land straight on that pillow
Each time I try
My tears land straight on that pillow
Cause there's no other way for me to let go
In "Tears on My Pillow," Goapele reflects on the pain of trying to hold onto someone who is no longer there. She acknowledges that she now understands the struggle of loving someone and leaving them, and recognizes the difficulty of holding back so many emotions as a man. Despite knowing that she couldn't have held him down if he wanted to leave, she still struggles to let go of him. Each time she tries to move on, her tears fall straight onto her pillow, as there seems to be no other way for her to let go.
Goapele's lyrics convey a sense of heartbreak and desperation that many people can relate to. It's a painful experience to watch someone you love slip away, especially when you don't understand why. The chorus highlights this feeling of helplessness, as she repeatedly sings about her tears landing straight onto her pillow each time she tries to move on. Despite the pain, however, she still longs for the person who left her, wishing he could stay and holding onto the hope that forgiveness will come in time.
Overall, "Tears on My Pillow" is a poignant and emotional song that captures the feelings of heartbreak and longing after a relationship has ended.
Line by Line Meaning
I think I finally understand
I now comprehend the reason behind your love and subsequent departure.
How you could love someone and leave them
I understand how one can love a person but choose to leave them.
It must be hard to be a man
I acknowledge the difficulties faced by men, especially in dealing with their emotions.
Holding back so many feelings
I understand how it feels to try and suppress one's emotions.
I saw you slip away
I noticed you distancing yourself from me long before you provided any justification.
Long before you gave reasons
You made your intentions clear to leave me, even if you never provided me with a proper explanation.
Couldn’t hold you down if you wanted to go
I realize that I cannot force you to stay if you truly want to leave me.
Each time I try
Every attempt I make to forget and move on.
My tears land straight on my pillow
My tears fall openly and freely onto my pillow.
Cause there’s no other way for me to let go
I have no other means of release other than crying.
I didn’t wanna even care
I tried not to care about you anymore.
I didn’t wanna even miss you
I attempted to forget everything about you, including the moments we had together.
Cause you told me you’d be there
I expected you to remain by my side as you had told me you would.
Now should I even try to reach you?
I pondered whether it was worth reaching out to you after you had disregarded my feelings.
I look in the mirror
I scrutinize and observe myself in the reflection of a mirror.
I see your face in mine
I see your image reflected in mine.
And it’s much clearer now
I understand more comprehensively now.
I need you in my life
I still desire to have you in my life.
I see it in your eyes
I perceive the emotions you are hiding behind your eyes.
Your laugh is a disguise
Your laughter serves as a cover-up for the emotions you don't want to reveal.
It used to be magic to me
The magic that we once shared is now gone.
You’re giving me no choice
You are making it impossible for me to do anything else.
I hear it in your voice
I detect the lack of affection in your voice.
And it’s so sad to me
It is heartbreaking to witness the end of our relationship.
But I think forgiveness is the season
I believe that the season calls for forgiveness.
Wish you could stay I have my reasons
Although I wish you could stay, I have reasons for letting you go.
I’m still trying to hold on
I am still struggling to hold on to whatever is left of our relationship.
To something that’s gone
Despite my efforts, it is clear that our relationship is over.
Can’t make you stay here with me
It is not possible for me to compel you to remain with me.
It’s like I’m crying in vain
It feels as though my tears are in vain.
Cause there’s no other way for me to let go
Crying is the only way for me to let go of the pain and the memories.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CARMEN MICHELLE KEY, KERRY BROTHERS, THERON FEEMSTER, GOAPELEK MOHLABANE, ROBERT OZUNA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mamaziha79
"Tears On My Pillow"
I think I finally understand
How you could love someone and leave them.
It must be hard to be a man
Holding back so many feelings.
I saw you slip away
Long before you gave reasons
Couldn’t hold you down if you wanted to go
Each time I try,
My tears land straight on my pillow
Each time I try,
My tears land straight on my pillow
Each time I try,
My tears land straight on my pillow
Cause there’s no other way for me to let go
I didn’t wanna even care
I didn’t wanna even miss you
Cause you told me you’d be there
Now should I even try to reach you?
I look in the mirror
I see your face in mine
And it’s much clearer now
I need you in my life
But, each time I try,
My tears land straight on that pillow
Each time I try,
My tears land straight on that pillow
Each time I try,
My tears land straight on that pillow
Cause there’s no other way for me to let go
I see it in your eyes
Your laugh is a disguise
It used to be magic to me
You’re giving me no choice
I hear it in your voice
And it’s so sad to me
But I think forgiveness is the season
Wish you could stay I have my reasons
I’m still trying to hold on
To something that’s gone
Can’t make you stay here with me
Oh but each time I try,
It’s like I’m crying in vain
Each time I try,
My tears land straight on that pillow
Each time I try,
My tears land straight on that pillow
Cause there’s no other way for me to let go
Each time I try,
My tears land straight on that pillow
Each time I try,
My tears land straight on that pillow
Each time I try,
My tears land straight on that pillow
Cause there’s no other way for me to let go...
S L
She’s so underrated! One of my top favorites for sure!!!! This is music, this is substance, this is soul! Yesss Queen!
Ms bent
one has to ask why artists with talent and integrity are excluded from the mainstream and soulless, dead behind the eyes tripe, continuously makes it to the top.
Sharafa Balogun
Goapele is pure CLASS! A fan from Lagos Nigeria 🇳🇬
Scumbag777
could be the most underrated artist ever
Kay Kim
X
Regina Cee
Sadly she is under rated, she deserves more recognition her music is beautiful
music lover1984
I agree
music lover1984
@Regina Cee she has a beautiful voice.
music lover1984
@Regina Cee I remember runnin' from sparkle and closer.
somneng chan
Ms. Goapele. Queen. Thank you for your life, music, and everything you stand for. You have save my life time and time again. Looking forward to seeing you live in person again💜💜💜