How Do We Do This
Ian McConnell Lyrics

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How do we do this
I say bye you say bye we're out of each other's lives like that
Is that how we do this?
Or is it a process
We hook up we relapse try to take each other back until
We say we can't do this

We're used to fallin' in, we're no good at fallin' out

What's the protocol on how to let each other down
Without too many cuts and bruises
Baby how do we do this
When it's easier to stay than walk away
Is there any way to say it wasn't all a waste
When we fought so hard to not lose it
How do we do this

And what do we tell them
'Cause you know that they'll ask and it's not as simple as
You did this or I did that
It just wasn't meant to last
Even if we thought it was for a year and a half

We're used to fallin' in, we're no good at fallin' out
What's the protocol on how to let each other down
Without too many cuts and bruises
Baby how do we do this
When it's easier to stay than walk away
Is there any way to say it wasn't all a waste
When we fought so hard to not lose it
How do we do this

How do we act when I see you out
How do we change everything we do now
How do we separate our lives when we are each other's lives
Ooh

We're used to fallin' in, we're no good at fallin' out
What's the protocol on how to let each other down
Without too many cuts and bruises
Baby how do we do this
When it's easier to stay than walk away
Is there any way to say it wasn't all a waste

When we fought so hard to not lose it
How do we do this

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ian McConnell's song "How Do We Do This" delve into the complexities and difficulties of ending a relationship. The singer grapples with the question of how to navigate the process of breaking up, expressing uncertainty about whether they should simply part ways abruptly or go through a more gradual separation. The lyrics highlight the tug-of-war that often accompanies the end of a relationship, with the couple oscillating between wanting to reconnect and realizing they can't sustain the relationship any longer.

The song touches on the struggle of letting go and moving on after investing time and effort into a relationship that ultimately didn't work out. The singer reflects on the pain of trying to salvage a relationship that is beyond repair and contemplates the emotional toll of admitting that it's time to let go. The lyrics convey a sense of resignation and acceptance that it's time to acknowledge the reality of the situation and move forward.

The lyrics also address the challenges of explaining the breakup to others, highlighting the complexities of ending a relationship that may have seemed strong to outsiders. The singer grapples with finding the right words to describe the end of the relationship and the difficulty of articulating that sometimes things just don't work out, even if both parties believed in the relationship for a significant amount of time.

The song concludes with a contemplation of the practical aspects of ending a relationship, such as how to navigate seeing the ex-partner in public and how to disentangle their lives that were once intertwined. The lyrics evoke a sense of uncertainty and vulnerability as the singer grapples with the aftermath of a breakup, highlighting the struggle to find closure and move on from a relationship that once meant everything.

Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Ian McConnell, Lydia Dall

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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