The Breakup Song
Greg Kihn Band Lyrics


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We had broken up for good
Just an hour before
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, ah
And now I'm staring at the bodies
As they're dancing 'cross the floor
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, ah
And then the band slowed the tempo
And the music gets you down
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, ah
It was the same old song
With a melancholy sound
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, ah

They don't write 'em like that anymore
They just don't write 'em like that anymore
We'd been living together for a million years
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, ah
But now it feels so strange out of the atmospheres
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, ah
And then the jukebox plays a song I used to know
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, ah
And now I'm staring at the bodies
As they're dancing so slow
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, aah

They don't write 'em like that anymore
They don't write 'em like that anymore

Mm, now I wind up staring at an empty glass
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, ah
'Cause it's so easy to say
That she'll forget your past
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, aah

They don't write 'em like that anymore
No, they just don't write 'em like that anymore
They don't write 'em like that anymore
They just don't write 'em like that anymore
They just don't, no, they don't, no no, uh-uh




They just don't write 'em like that anymore
They just don't

Overall Meaning

The Greg Kihn Band's iconic hit "The Breakup Song" details the aftermath of a recently ended relationship. The lyrics describe the confusion and heartache one experiences when they see their ex-partner out and about with other people. The singer is filled with nostalgia and longing as they reflect on the memories of their relationship. The band slows down the tempo, playing an old song with a melancholy sound that further deepens the pain of the singer. The lyrics offer a commentary on how the songs of the past used to deal with romantic heartbreak and how current songs don't quite capture the same raw emotion.


The singer describes how long they were together, noting that it felt like a million years, before commenting how out of place they feel now the relationship has ended, like they are in a different atmosphere entirely. The singer hears a song from their past relationship on the jukebox, causing them to get lost in thought and stare as the couple dances slowly, reminding them of a time when they were in love. The song's chorus repeats the idea that they just don't write songs like that anymore, suggesting the music landscape is different nowadays.


Overall, the lyrics to "The Breakup Song" detail the struggles of moving on after heartbreak, showcasing the pain and nostalgia that comes with the end of a meaningful relationship.


Line by Line Meaning

We had broken up for good Just an hour before Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, ah
I recently broke up with my partner and it's still fresh in my mind, the pain is starting to set in


And now I'm staring at the bodies As they're dancing 'cross the floor Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, ah
I'm at a party but I can't bring myself to join in the fun, I feel like such an outsider


And then the band slowed the tempo And the music gets you down Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, ah
The music is reflective of my mood, slow and sad, it's only making things worse


It was the same old song With a melancholy sound Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, ah
The song the band is playing is one I know well, and it's only compounding my sadness


They don't write 'em like that anymore They just don't write 'em like that anymore
I'm lamenting the fact that music these days can't capture the depth of emotion like this song does


We'd been living together for a million years Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, ah
My ex and I had been together for so long, it feels like forever


But now it feels so strange out of the atmospheres Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, ah
Without my partner, everything feels foreign and unsettling, like I'm in a different world


And then the jukebox plays a song I used to know Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, ah
A familiar song starts playing, one that reminds me of happier times with my ex


And now I'm staring at the bodies As they're dancing so slow Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, aah
Watching everyone dancing slowly is a painful reminder of what I've lost


Mm, now I wind up staring at an empty glass Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, ah
I'm drowning my sorrows in alcohol, trying to numb the pain


'Cause it's so easy to say That she'll forget your past Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah-ah, aah
I'm trying to convince myself that my ex will move on and forget about me, but it's easier said than done


No, they just don't write 'em like that anymore They just don't write 'em like that anymore They just don't
One last time, I bemoan the fact that modern music just doesn't capture heartbreak like this song does




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GARY PHILLIPS, GREGORY STANLEY KIHN, STEPHEN ALAN WRIGHT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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