Messersmith is not only a musician is half-truth, but also a storyteller. His first full-length release The Alcatraz Kid is a moving collection of acoustic-driven lullabies with titles like “Novocain” and “Beautiful Children” that innocently question the purpose of things to come. The integrity of these delicate songs immediately struck a chord with critics and fans alike, and captured the attention of Semisonic’s Dan Wilson, who offered to produce Messersmith’s follow-up album, The Silver City.
The Silver City was a natural progression in sound and reflection: the compositions grew fuller and more dynamic with a classic-pop feel inspired by the Beach Boys and Beatles: While the topics focused on midlife struggles with tracks like “Dead End Job” and “Miracles.” Local and national attention soon followed with NPR and college stations around the country, followed by U.S. tours and sold-out shows in New York, Chicago and Minneapolis.
The Reluctant Graveyard bookends this trilogy of lifelong (ahem, literary) observations with songs like “Lazy Bones” and “Organ Donor,” and sonically continues on the ’60s chamber pop path Messersmith set out with his sophomore release. He continues to share stages with notables such as Sondre Lechre and The Watson Twins, and has been featured on MTV and Ugly Betty.
You'll Only Break His Heart
Jeremy Messersmith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But love the winter
Minnesota night
Late November
So take his hand
But keep your distance
Let the fallen snow
Hide your secrets
You'll only break his heart
You'll only break his heart
You'll only break his heart
You'll only break his heart
It's nice enough
But you crave adventures
Where there once was fire
Only embers
And you don't want
To play the villain
What he doesn't know
Sure won't kill him
You'll only break his heart
You'll only break his heart
You'll only break his heart
You'll only break his heart
He's out of touch
He's last year's fashion
Lately, when you kiss
There's no passion
But don't tell him
You found a lover
Lie awake at night
Dream about her
You'll only break his heart
You'll only break his heart
You'll only break his heart
You'll only break his heart
So pack your things
While he's still sleeping
He won't understand
All your reasons
Don't look back
When you're leaving
No, don't look back
You'll only break his heart
You'll only break his heart
You'll only break his heart
You'll only break his heart
You'll only break his heart
You'll only break his heart
You'll only break his heart
You'll only break his heart
The song "You'll Only Break His Heart" by Jeremy Messersmith tells the story of a relationship that has gone stale, where one person is no longer in love with the other but is hesitant to break things off for fear of hurting their partner. The first verse suggests that the couple is in Minnesota, where the winters are cold but beautiful. The singer doesn't want to hurt her partner, so she keeps her distance and hides her true feelings under the falling snow. But in the second verse, we learn that she is looking for adventure and passion that she's not finding with her current partner, and she struggles with the idea of breaking his heart. In the final verse, she decides to leave quietly while he's still sleeping, knowing that he won't understand her reasons but hoping that he won't be hurt.
The chorus repeats the phrase "you'll only break his heart" four times, emphasizing the singer's guilt and her recognition that there is no way to end the relationship without causing pain. The lines "he's out of touch, he's last year's fashion / lately, when you kiss there's no passion" suggest that the relationship has lost its spark, and the singer has already emotionally moved on.
Overall, the lyrics are poignant and bittersweet, capturing the painful experience of ending a relationship when one person is no longer in love. Messersmith's gentle vocals add to the song's melancholy atmosphere, making it both beautiful and heartbreaking.
Line by Line Meaning
You hate the cold
You dislike discomfort and unpleasantness in your life
But love the winter
However, you still find the beauty and appeal of the winter season irresistible
Minnesota night
A specific location and time period that sets the stage for the story
Late November
Further establishing the time and setting of the story
So take his hand
Forming a romantic connection with him
But keep your distance
Yet, you do not want to be too emotionally invested in the relationship
Let the fallen snow
Using the surrounding snowy landscape as a tool for deception
Hide your secrets
Concealing your true feelings and intentions from your partner
You'll only break his heart
Warning yourself that the relationship will ultimately end in heartbreak for him
It's nice enough
The relationship is pleasant and enjoyable, but not fulfilling enough for you
But you crave adventures
You desire more excitement and stimulation in your life
Where there once was fire
The passion and intensity in the relationship has dwindled
Only embers
Only remnants of the intense passion remain
And you don't want
You do not want to be the one to end the relationship
To play the villain
You do not want to be seen as the bad guy in the breakup
What he doesn't know
Keeping your true intentions hidden from him
Sure won't kill him
Not revealing the truth to him will not harm him
He's out of touch
Your partner is not in tune with your needs and desires
He's last year's fashion
Your partner is no longer trendy or appealing to you
Lately, when you kiss
Your physical intimacy has lost its spark
There's no passion
The physical connection lacks the passion and intensity it once had
But don't tell him
Keeping your true feelings from him to spare his emotions
You found a lover
Seeking out and finding someone else that satisfies your desires
Lie awake at night
Being consumed by thoughts of this new lover
Dream about her
Fantasizing about a new relationship with this other person
So pack your things
Preparing to leave the relationship
While he's still sleeping
Taking advantage of the time when he is not awake and alert
He won't understand
Your partner will not be able to comprehend your true reasons for leaving
All your reasons
The multitude of reasons and emotions that have led you to this decision
Don't look back
Making a clean break and not dwelling on the past
Contributed by Mila O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.