I Am Trying to Break Your Heart
Jeff Tweedy Lyrics
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I assassin down the avenue
I′m hiding out in the big city blinking
What was I thinking when I let go of you?
Let's forget about the tongue-tied lightning
Let′s undress just like cross-eyed strangers
This is not a joke, so please stop smiling
I want to glide through those brown eyes dreaming
Take it from the inside, baby hold on tight
You were so right when you said that I've been drinking
What was I thinking when I said good night?
I want to hold you in the Bible-black predawn
You′re quite a quiet domino, bury me now
Take off your Band-Aid because I don′t believe in touchdowns
What was I thinking when I said hello?
I'd always thought that if I held you tightly
You′d always love me like you did back then
Then I fell asleep and the city kept blinking
What was I thinking when I let you back in?
I am trying to break your heart
I am trying to break your heart
But still I'd be lying if I said it wasn′t easy
I am trying to break your heart
Disposable Dixie-cup drinking
I assassin down the avenue
I'm hiding out in the big city blinking
What was I thinking when I let go of you?
Loves you
I′m the man who loves you
The lyrics of Jeff Tweedy's song “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” explore the aftermath of a broken relationship. The song is a reflection on the singer’s decisions and the regrets they have. The opening lines, “I am an American aquarium drinker / I assassin down the avenue / I'm hiding out in the big city blinking / What was I thinking when I let go of you?” convey the singer’s sense of detachment and displacement. He feels like he is lost in a big city but cannot escape his thoughts and memories of the person he let go.
The song then continues with the singer reminiscing about the good times they had with their partner, “Let's forget about the tongue-tied lightning / Let's undress just like cross-eyed strangers.” These lines, paired with the pleading “This is not a joke, so please stop smiling / What was I thinking when I said it didn't hurt?” indicate that the singer is trying to rekindle their relationship with their partner but is faced with an unresponsive or indifferent attitude.
In the final verse, the lyrics take on a darker tone with the line, “Take off your Band-Aid because I don't believe in touchdowns.” This line may reflect the singer’s sense of cynicism or apathy towards conventional romantic gestures. The song ends with the singer admitting, “I am trying to break your heart / But still I'd be lying if I said it wasn't easy” indicating the struggle between the singer’s desire for reconciliation and his fear of vulnerability.
Line by Line Meaning
I am an American aquarium drinker
I am an American who drinks bottled water.
I assassin down the avenue
I walk down the street with swiftness and stealth.
I'm hiding out in the big city blinking
I am staying hidden in the busy city, blinking in the bright lights.
What was I thinking when I let go of you?
Why did I let you go? What was I thinking?
Let's forget about the tongue-tied lightning
Let's ignore the awkward silence.
Let's undress just like cross-eyed strangers
Let's be intimate with each other despite being strangers.
This is not a joke, so please stop smiling
This is serious, so please stop smiling.
What was I thinking when I said it didn't hurt?
Why did I say that it didn't hurt?
I want to glide through those brown eyes dreaming
I want to be lost in your brown eyes.
Take it from the inside, baby hold on tight
Take the path of inner peace and hold on tight.
You were so right when you said that I've been drinking
You were correct when you said that I have been drinking alcohol.
What was I thinking when I said good night?
Why did I say good night?
I want to hold you in the Bible-black predawn
I want to embrace you in the dark before sunrise.
You're quite a quiet domino, bury me now
You're a peaceful, calming force, take me away now.
Take off your Band-Aid because I don't believe in touchdowns
Remove your emotional barriers, I don't believe in superficial success.
What was I thinking when I said hello?
Why did I say hello?
I'd always thought that if I held you tightly
I believed that if I held you tightly, you'd love me as before.
You'd always love me like you did back then
You would always love me as you did in the past.
Then I fell asleep and the city kept blinking
I fell asleep while the city lights kept flashing.
What was I thinking when I let you back in?
Why did I allow you to return to my life?
I am trying to break your heart
I am intentionally trying to hurt you emotionally.
But still I'd be lying if I said it wasn't easy
It's easy to hurt you, but I'd be dishonest if I said it didn't affect me.
Loves you
I love you.
I'm the man who loves you
I am the man who loves you.
Disposable Dixie-cup drinking
Drinking from disposable cups, like Dixie cups.
Loves you
I love you.
I assassin down the avenue
I walk down the street with swiftness and stealth.
I'm hiding out in the big city blinking
I am staying hidden in the busy city, blinking in the bright lights.
What was I thinking when I let go of you?
Why did I let you go? What was I thinking?
Writer(s): Jeff Tweedy
Contributed by Adrian M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@louisjwilliamsii
If you sound this good solo of course it'll be amazing with the rest of the band
@andybeckett4340
On the level of John Prine Jeff Tweedy is a integral part of American music history’s songbook
@MicahlanBoney
Raw talent!
@adamhausman7918
is this guy aging twice as fast as the rest of us
@Fry09294
:(
@Nexrolust_official
Maybe, or that his style
@andybeckett4340
Drugs and Alcohol are a helleva thing
@joshgrisham2275
He was very sick, some sensitivity would help
@DrTomJDevitt
amazing
@o_solovio
That bending... jesus.