Broken Strings
James Morrison Lyrics

Let me hold you
The singer wants to have one final embrace with their lover.

For the last time
This is the final opportunity for the singer to feel something.

It's the last chance to feel again
The singer believes that this is the only chance for them to experience true emotions.

But you broke me
The lover has caused the artist to become emotionally damaged.

Now I can't feel anything
The artist has become numb to the emotions that they once felt with their lover.

When I love you
The singer feels that their love is not genuine.

It's so untrue
The singer acknowledges that their love for their lover is not real.

I can't even convince myself
The artist cannot even persuade themselves that their love is true.

When I'm speaking
The artist's words do not reflect their true feelings.

It's the voice of someone else
The artist's words are not their own, but those of another person.

Whoa it tears me up
The singer is deeply hurt by their situation.

I try to hold on, but it hurts too much
The artist tries to remain attached to their lover, but the pain is too great.

I try to forgive, but it's not enough to make it all okay
The singer tries to forgive their lover, but it does not fix their broken relationship.

You can't play on broken strings
It is impossible to create music on damaged instruments, just as it is impossible to have a functional relationship on a foundation of hurt and mistrust.

You can't feel anything that your heart don't want to feel
Emotions cannot be forced or faked, they must come from the heart.

I can't tell you something that ain't real
The artist is unable to lie to their lover or deceive them with false feelings.

Oh the truth hurts
The truth may be painful, but it is necessary to move on from a broken relationship.

And lies worse
Lying is even more damaging than the truth.

How can I give anymore
The singer is depleted and cannot give any more of themselves to the relationship.

When I love you a little less than before
The artist's love for their partner has diminished over time.

Oh what are we doing
The artist questions the direction and purpose of the relationship.

We are turning into dust
The relationship is crumbling and falling apart.

Playing house in the ruins of us
The couple is pretending that the relationship is intact, but it is falling apart around them.

Running back through the fire
The artist is willing to face the pain of the past for the sake of the relationship.

When there's nothing left to save
There may be no hope left for the relationship.

It's like chasing the very last train when it's too late (too late)
Attempting to salvage the relationship at this stage is futile, like trying to catch a train that has already left the station.

Oh you know that I love you a little less than before
The singer's feelings for their lover continue to fade.