Heather Headley (born October 5, 1974) is a Tony Award-winning and Grammy A… Read Full Bio ↴Heather Headley (born October 5, 1974) is a Tony Award-winning and Grammy Award-winning R&B singer and actress from Trinidad and Tobago.

Headley began playing the music of her native country at a young age, including calypso, reggae and soca. She moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana in the United States at the age of fifteen when her father was offered a job as pastor of McKee Street Church of God (in Anderson, Indiana).

After graduating from Northrop High School, Headley attended Northwestern University to study communications and musical theatre. In 1997, she played Nala in The Lion King, the Broadway musical. Headley's performance was well-received and she then originated the title role in the Broadway adaptation of Aida, earning the Tony Award for Best Actress in 1999.

Headley released her debut album, This Is Who I Am, in October 2002 on RCA Records. Although its first single, "He Is", was not very successful, the second single, "I Wish I Wasn't", achieved moderate success and earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Headley was also nominated for Best New Artist.

On September 6, 2003, Headley married Brian Musso, formerly of the New York Jets. Her second album, In My Mind, was delayed due to the various executive shake-ups associated with RCA parent BMG's merger with Sony, and Headley joked that it should have been called Caught Up instead. Under BMG North America chairman/CEO Clive Davis for the first time, Headley released the album in January 2006. The title track was released as the first single; it was produced by India.Arie collaborator Shannon Sanders, and its music video was directed by Diane Martel. The song reached number-one on the U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.

Four Words From A Heartbreak
Heather Headley Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've said
I won't cry anymore
What's the use of crying for
It doesn't change
The fact that love's a fragile thing
Like,
Monday
I was your everything

But Tuesday you had news to bring
You have to go
It's just the way somebody told me

[Chorus]
Your four words from a heartbreak (just four)
Four words from a mistake (just four)
Your four words from a heartbreak

He's leaving
It's over
Hey sorry
And goodbye
Maybe
All we have is now
Promises fade somehow
Don't tell me please
About the love we'll share tomorrow
Do you
Remember the plans we made
They're lying in the shallow grave
Next to all
The shattered dreams
Like someone told me

[Chorus]

Goodbye
Sorry
It's over
It's over
Goodbye
He's leaving
But the pain isn't over

[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

In Heather Headley's song "Four Words From A Heartbreak," she sings about the pain of heartbreak and the frustration of promises and dreams breaking apart. In the first verse, she acknowledges the fragility of love and the futility of crying over what has been lost. She then sings about the suddenness of a breakup, describing how one day she was everything to her partner, and the next day, he was leaving.

The chorus of the song centers on the "four words" that the partner says when he leaves: "he's leaving, it's over, hey sorry, and goodbye." These four simple phrases encapsulate the heartbreaking end of a relationship, leaving Heather feeling hurt and disillusioned. In the second verse, she reflects on the promises that were made and the dreams that were shared, which now lie buried with the shattered remnants of the relationship.

Overall, "Four Words From A Heartbreak" is an emotional exploration of the pain of heartbreak and the dashed hopes and promises that often accompany it. Heather Headley's powerful vocals and poignant lyrics make for a moving and relatable song that speaks to anyone who has ever experienced the pain of a broken heart.

Line by Line Meaning

I've said
I have made a promise

I won't cry anymore
I won't shed tears anymore

What's the use of crying for
There's no point in crying over

It doesn't change
It will not alter

The fact that love's a fragile thing
Love is a delicate and vulnerable emotion

Like, Monday
Before, he treated me well

I was your everything
I was his world

But Tuesday you had news to bring
Then he suddenly revealed a bad news

You have to go
He has to leave

It's just the way somebody told me
That's just how life is sometimes

Your four words from a heartbreak (just four)
The four words he said that shattered my heart