By Myself
Julie London Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

The party's over, the game is ended,
the dreams I dreamed went up in smoke.
They didn't pan out as I had intended;
I should know how to take a joke.

I'll go my way by myself, this is the end of romance.
I'll go my way by myself, love is only a dance.
I'll try to apply myself and teach my heart to sing.
I'll go my way by myself like a bird on the wing,
I'll face the unknown, I'll build a world of my own;
No one knows better than I, myself, I'm by myself alone.
I'll go my way by myself, here's how the comedy ends.
I'll have to deny myself love and laughter and friends.
Grey clouds in sky above have put a blot on my fun.
I'll try to fly high above for a place in the sun.




I'll face the unknown, I'll build a world of my own;
No one knows better than I, myself, I'm by myself alone

Overall Meaning

Julie London's song "By Myself" is a melancholic ballad that chronicles the end of a relationship and the singer's decision to move on and navigate life alone. The chorus of the song emphasizes the sense of detachment experienced by the singer who acknowledges that the party is over, the game has ended and the dreams she had have dissipated into thin air. The singer seems to take responsibility for her current predicament and accepts that things didn't pan out as she intended. This form of resignation reveals a certain level of maturity and acceptance of the realities of life that the singer is no longer going to deny.


The line "I'll go my way by myself, love is only a dance" portrays the singer's disillusionment with love as futile and the upcoming pursuit of happiness as a solo affair. The line, "I'll try to apply myself and teach my heart to sing," shows that the singer is ready to move past her heartbreak and explore new opportunities. The singer acknowledges that it won't be easy, but she has made peace with the inevitability of going through uncertain times alone. The last line of Julie London's song "By Myself" muses that "No one knows better than I, myself, I'm by myself alone." It highlights the idea that ultimately, no one can truly know what is in a person's heart and the challenges they face. Thus, people often have to face challenges on their own, and this can be an empowering experience.


Line by Line Meaning

The party's over, the game is ended,
The enjoyable, exciting time that I was having has come to an end, and the situation I was in is over.


the dreams I dreamed went up in smoke.
The hopes and aspirations that I had are now gone and will not come to fruition.


They didn't pan out as I had intended;
My plans and goals did not succeed or work out the way that I had hoped they would.


I should know how to take a joke.
I should be able to handle and accept the unexpected and unfavorable things that happen in life with good humor and grace.


I'll go my way by myself, this is the end of romance.
I will live my life alone and without romantic love from another person, as my relationship has ended for good.


I'll go my way by myself, love is only a dance.
From now on, I will not view love as a serious or meaningful part of my life, but rather as a temporary and shallow activity.


I'll try to apply myself and teach my heart to sing.
I will put effort into improving myself and finding joy and happiness in life on my own.


I'll go my way by myself like a bird on the wing,
I will move forward in my life independently, like a bird soaring through the air without assistance.


I'll face the unknown, I'll build a world of my own;
I will confront the uncertain and unfamiliar future ahead of me, and create and shape my life in my own way.


No one knows better than I, myself, I'm by myself alone.
I am the only person who truly understands my own thoughts, feelings, and desires, and I am on my own without anyone else to rely on or understand me.


I'll go my way by myself, here's how the comedy ends.
I will continue my journey alone, and my life will be like a comedy, with unexpected and humorous twists that will make the story of my life amusing.


I'll have to deny myself love and laughter and friends.
I will have to sacrifice and give up the joy and happiness of love, laughter, and friends in order to live my life independently.


Grey clouds in sky above have put a blot on my fun.
The dreary and unpleasant circumstances of life, like dark clouds in the sky, have cast a pall over the enjoyment and pleasure that I seek.


I'll try to fly high above for a place in the sun.
I will strive to rise above my difficulties and find a place of happiness and contentment, like a bird seeking the warmth and light of the sun.


I'll face the unknown, I'll build a world of my own;
I will confront the uncertain and unfamiliar future ahead of me, and create and shape my life in my own way.


No one knows better than I, myself, I'm by myself alone.
I am the only person who truly understands my own thoughts, feelings, and desires, and I am on my own without anyone else to rely on or understand me.




Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Arthur Schwartz, Howard Dietz

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions