Careless Whisper
Jay Jay Lyrics
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Through the heart and mind, ignorance is kind
There's no comfort in the truth
Pain is the heart you'll find
I'm never gonna dance again,
Guilty feet I've got no rhythm
Thought it's easy to pretend,
Should've known better than to cheat a friend,
And waste the chance that I've been given
No I'm never gonna dance again,
The way I danced with you
I feel so unsure, as I take your hand and lead you to the dance floor
As the music dies, something in your eyes
Calls to mind the silver screen
And all its sad good-byes
Tonight the music seems so loud
I wish that we could lose this crowd
Maybe it's better this way
We hurt each other with the things we wanna say
We could've been so good together
We could've lived this dance last forever
But no ones gonna dance with me
Please stay
The song "Careless Whisper" by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley is a ballad that tells the story of a man who is regretful for cheating on his partner and losing their friendship. The lyrics speak of the heartbreak caused by careless actions and the loss that follows. The line "Time can never mend, the careless whisper of a good friend," highlights the regret and pain felt by the singer. The phrase "ignorance is kind" reflects on the idea that sometimes not knowing can be easier than facing the truth, but ultimately the truth brings pain. The lyrics also touch on the guilt and shame felt by the singer, as he says "I'm never gonna dance again, guilty feet I've got no rhythm."
The chorus of the song repeats the theme of regret and lost opportunities. The line "Should've known better than to cheat a friend, and waste the chance that I've been given," shows that the singer is aware that he has made a mistake and is unable to undo it. The phrase "And all its sad good-byes" highlights the sorrow and melancholy that pervades the song.
Overall, the song is a reflection on the human condition, our tendency towards mistakes, the inevitability of pain, and the difficulty of seeking forgiveness.
Line by Line Meaning
Time can never mend, the careless whisper of a good friend
The damage caused by breaking the trust of a good friend is irreparable with time.
Through the heart and mind, ignorance is kind
When one is unaware of the mistakes they are making, it seems preferable to live in that ignorance rather than face the consequences.
There's no comfort in the truth
Knowing the truth about a situation can be incredibly painful and uncomfortable.
Pain is the heart you'll find
At the core of the pain of a broken relationship is the heart of the person who has been hurt.
I'm never gonna dance again,
Guilty feet I've got no rhythm
The artist is acknowledging their guilt and lack of grace in the situation.
Thought it's easy to pretend,
I know you're not a fool
The singer recognizes that they cannot hide their true feelings from the person they have hurt.
Should've known better than to cheat a friend,
And waste the chance that I've been given
The singer regrets betraying the trust of their friend and losing the opportunity to have a good relationship.
No I'm never gonna dance again,
The way I danced with you
The artist knows that their past relationship and way of interacting cannot be rekindled.
I feel so unsure, as I take your hand and lead you to the dance floor
The artist is hesitant and anxious about the situation.
As the music dies, something in your eyes
Calls to mind the silver screen
And all its sad good-byes
The atmosphere brings up memories of sad endings in movies, which further highlights the sadness of the current situation.
Tonight the music seems so loud
I wish that we could lose this crowd
The loudness of the music and the presence of people make the situation more overwhelming for the singer.
Maybe it's better this way
We hurt each other with the things we wanna say
The artist acknowledges that words can cause hurt and maybe this separation is for the better.
We could've been so good together
We could've lived this dance last forever
But no ones gonna dance with me
Please stay
The singer regrets the deterioration of their relationship and wishes they could have stayed together, but they acknowledge that this is unlikely and ask the other person to stay in the moment.
Writer(s): Andrew Ridgeley, Michael George, J. Ridgeley Andrew
Contributed by Lincoln V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.