Unforgiven
Jeff Buckley Lyrics


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This is our last goodbye
I hate to feel the love between us die
But it's over
Just hear this and then I'll go
you gave me more to live for
more than you'll ever know

This is our last embrace
Must I dream and always see your face
Why can't we overcome this wall
Baby, maybe it is just because I didn't know you at all

Kiss me
Please kiss me
But kiss me out of desire, baby
And not consolation
You know it makes me so angry
'Cause I know that in time
I'll only make you cry
This is our last goodbye

Did you say "No, this can't happen to me"
And did you rush to your phone to call?
Was there a voice unkind in the back of your mind saying
"Maybe ... you didn't know him at all"

Well
The bells out in the church tower chime
Burning clues into this heart of mine
Thinking so hard on her soft eyes and the memory




Of her sighs that it's over
It's over

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Jeff Buckley's song "Unforgiven" appear to be a final goodbye between two lovers. The singer expresses a sadness about the love between them dying but recognizes that it is over. They ask for a final kiss but not out of consolation, suggesting that they do not want to make the situation harder for their partner. The singer recognizes that they may have not known their partner as well as they thought they did, leading to their separation.


The song's structure and melody also reflect this bittersweet feeling, starting with a slower, almost mournful tempo before picking up in the chorus. Jeff Buckley's voice is hauntingly beautiful, adding to the emotional weight of the lyrics. Throughout the song, there is a sense of longing and regret over what could have been different.


Overall, "Unforgiven" is a melancholy reflection on the end of a relationship and the difficulties that come with moving on. It is a perfect showcase for Buckley's incredible vocal range and ability to convey complex emotions through his music.


Line by Line Meaning

This is our last goodbye
We are saying farewell to each other for the last time


I hate to feel the love between us die
It pains me to let go of the love we once shared


But it's over
Our relationship has ended and there's no going back


Just hear this and then I'll go
Let me say what I need to say and then I'll leave


You gave me more to live for, more than you'll ever know
You have been a source of happiness and inspiration for me, more than you realize


This is our last embrace
We are embracing each other for the last time


Must I dream and always see your face
Do I have to keep dreaming about you and seeing your face in my dreams?


Why can't we overcome this wall
Why can't we get past the problems that have driven us apart?


Baby, maybe it is just because I didn't know you at all
Perhaps we were never truly able to understand each other


Kiss me
Please give me one last kiss


Please kiss me
I am pleading with you to kiss me


But kiss me out of desire, baby
Kiss me because you truly want to, not out of obligation or pity


And not consolation
Don't kiss me to comfort me, kiss me because you feel something for me


You know it makes me so angry
It upsets me so much


'Cause I know that in time, I'll only make you cry
Because I know that eventually, I will hurt you and make you cry


This is our last goodbye
We are saying farewell to each other for the last time


Did you say 'No, this can't happen to me'
Did you deny that our relationship was ending?


And did you rush to your phone to call?
Did you immediately reach for your phone to call me?


Was there a voice unkind in the back of your mind saying 'maybe...you didn't know him at all'
Did you have doubts in your mind about how well you really knew me?


Well, the bells out in the church tower chime
The bells in the church tower are ringing


Burning clues into this heart of mine
Leaving a lasting impression on my heart


Thinking so hard on her soft eyes and the memory of her sighs
Remembering the look in her eyes and the sound of her sighs


That it's over, it's over
Realizing that our relationship is truly over




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jeffery Buckley

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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