Hang Down From Heaven
Juliana Hatfield Lyrics


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Love is everywhere I'm not allowed
I feel he's been to Hell, but he's near to Heaven now
I need to see it; I can't not have it - so inscrutable, so beautiful

I try, I try, I try
His head is... I don't know; I'm stuck outside again
Can't get in; I can't move him
I think I like it because it hurts to not know, pain is so





I tried, I tried, I tried

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Juliana Hatfield’s song “Hang Down From Heaven” are open to interpretation, but the overall theme seems to be unrequited love or a love that cannot be fulfilled. The singer feels that love is all around but she is not allowed to experience it. She imagines that the object of her affection has been to Hell but is now close to Heaven. She longs to see him and find out more about him, but he is inscrutable and beautiful.


The singer expresses frustration and pain in the lyrics as she tries but fails to connect with the person she loves. She describes feeling “stuck outside” and unable to penetrate his thoughts or emotions. The repeated refrain of “I try, I try, I try” emphasizes her ongoing efforts to reach him. Overall, the song captures the intense emotions of a love that is unrequited or out of reach.


Line by Line Meaning

Love is everywhere I'm not allowed
I am prohibited from experiencing love, but it seems to surround me everywhere I go.


I feel he's been to Hell, but he's near to Heaven now
I sense that the person I am thinking of has gone through a terrible ordeal in the past, but is now in a much better place.


I need to see it; I can't not have it - so inscrutable, so beautiful
I have an intense desire to witness something that seems mysterious and stunningly attractive, and I cannot bear not having it.


I try, I try, I try
I continue to make an effort over and over again.


His head is... I don't know; I'm stuck outside again
I cannot comprehend what is going on inside his mind, and it feels like I am isolated and excluded from his thoughts and feelings.


Can't get in; I can't move him
I am unable to connect with him or influence his decisions in any way.


I think I like it because it hurts to not know, pain is so
I suspect that I may derive pleasure from the agony of uncertainty, as the pain of not knowing is so intense.


I tried, I tried, I tried
I continued to attempt to achieve my goal, but without success.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JULIANA HATFIELD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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