The Heart of Life
John Mayer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
Laying there in that position
There's things you need to hear
So turn off your tears and listen
Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
No, it won't all go the way, it should
But I know the heart of life is good
You know it's nothing new
Bad news never had good timing
But then the circle of your friends
Will defend the silver lining
Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
No, it won't all go the way, it should
But I know the heart of life is good
Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
Fear is a friend who's misunderstood
But I know the heart of life is good
I know it's good
The song "The Heart of Life" by John Mayer is a reflection on the hardships of life and the importance of finding hope and positivity amidst the struggles. The opening lines, "I hate to see you cry/Laying there in that position/There's things you need to hear/So turn off your tears and listen," suggest a desire to offer comfort and support to someone who is struggling.
Mayer then goes on to acknowledge that life can be unpredictable and challenging. He uses the metaphor of pain and love to illustrate this, stating that "Pain throws your heart to the ground/Love turns the whole thing around/No, it won't all go the way it should/But I know the heart of life is good." This verse seems to suggest that while life may be difficult and painful at times, there is still goodness and hope to be found.
In the second verse, Mayer acknowledges that bad news often comes at inconvenient times, but emphasizes the importance of having a supportive community to help find the "silver lining" in difficult situations. He again uses the pain/love metaphor, singing "Fear is a friend who's misunderstood/But I know the heart of life is good." Here, Mayer seems to be suggesting that fear, while often unpleasant, can be an ally in navigating life's hardships and finding the goodness within them.
Overall, "The Heart of Life" encourages listeners to persevere through life's struggles and find hope and positivity in the midst of them. Mayer's use of the pain/love metaphor throughout the song emphasizes the idea that hardship and goodness often go hand in hand, and that it is possible to find light even in the darkest of times.
Line by Line Meaning
I hate to see you cry
It pains me to witness your tears.
Laying there in that position
Your current state leaves you vulnerable and in need of comfort.
There's things you need to hear
I have words of encouragement and guidance that will help ease your pain.
So turn off your tears and listen
In order for my words to truly resonate, you must calm your emotions and be fully present.
Pain throws your heart to the ground
Heartache and suffering can leave you feeling lost and defeated.
Love turns the whole thing around
But the love and support of those around you can lift you back up and give you hope.
No, it won't all go the way, it should
Life is unpredictable and often doesn't follow our plans or expectations.
But I know the heart of life is good
Despite the hardships and uncertainties, I believe that the fundamental nature of life is positive and filled with potential.
You know it's nothing new
I understand that this struggle is not unique to you and has been experienced by many before you.
Bad news never had good timing
Unfortunately, difficult news tends to come at the most inconvenient moments.
But then the circle of your friends
However, the support and comfort of your close friends can help alleviate some of the burden.
Will defend the silver lining
They will remind you to focus on the positive aspects amidst the negative situation.
Fear is a friend who's misunderstood
Fear can be a valuable emotion in protecting and guiding us, but often it is misinterpreted and overwhelming.
But I know the heart of life is good
Regardless of fear and uncertainty, I hold true to my belief that life is fundamentally good and worth living fully.
I know it's good
I have confidence in the positive potential of life and in the resilience of the human spirit.
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: John Clayton Mayer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
coronavirus
I hate to see you cry
Lying there in that position
There's things you need to hear
So turn off your tears and listen
Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
No, it won't all go the way it should
But I know the heart of life is good
You know it's nothin' new
Bad news never had good timing
Then the circle of your friends
Will defend the silver lining
Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
No, it won't all go the way it should
But I know the heart of life is good
Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
Fear is a friend who's misunderstood
But I know the heart of life is good
I know it's good
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: John Mayer
Emmanuelle Nadon
APERÇU
PAROLES
ÉCOUTER
LES INTERNAUTES RECHERCHENT AUSSI
Paroles
I hate to see you cry
Lying there in that position
There's things you need to hear
So turn off your tears and listen
Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
No, it won't all go the way it should
But I know the heart of life is good
You know it's nothin' new
Bad news never had good timing
Then the circle of your friends
Will defend the silver lining
Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
No, it won't all go the way it should
But I know the heart of life is good
Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
Fear is a friend who's misunderstood
But I know the heart of life is good
I know it's good
Emily Bonafide
My sister lost her battle with cancer in 2016 (39 y/o) less than 2 years after we lost my dad to pancreatic cancer. it absolutely destroyed me, but she left behind a playlist with this song in it for us to play at her services. She didn't want anyone to feel sad. It's 2021 and I still listen to it whenever I need comfort most. ❤
Wayne Triplett
Im so sorry you lost them. Im sure they are watching you and hugging you when you dont even know it. Stay strong for em'.
El Piña
Stay strong and play the songs they loved
Jackie Pepper
I am going thru breast cancer treatments this song is amazing and has brought me thru some really hard times. Love concourse all!!!!!
ikram qazi
@Jackie Pepper that’s lovely to hear :) have a blessed life
TiMTiM Edits
Yay say the remission comments. Hope you're still okay.
Rajvir Singh
I hope you're still doing well listening to amazing music
bibek pawn
i was going to ask " r u alive ? but guess i have my answers
Brock Wilson
Though
MaK
Whenever I hear this song I get teary eyed because this was my great grandmas favorite song before she died😔❤️