I'm sorry
Justin Hayward Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Why don't you write me
Call me on the phone
Send Western Union
You can find me home

I said I'm sorry
I said I'm sorry
You know I bled you
Led you on a lie (Led me on a lie)
You say I fooled you
Who's' the fool tonight

I said I'm sorry
I said I'm sorry

High love in motion
Walking on the ocean of your sorrow
Round turn the tables
Lost I am a man with no tomorrow

You know lop-sided lovin'
It got me in the end (Got me in the end)
Looks like I'm done for
Now there's no pretending that I'm sorry
I said I'm sorry

High love in motion
Walking on the ocean of your sorrow
Around turn the tables
Lost I am a man with no tomorrow

I said why don't you write me
Call me on the phone (Call me on the phone)
Send Western Union
You can find me home





I said I'm sorry
I said I'm sorry

Overall Meaning

The song "I'm Sorry" by Justin Hayward is a melancholic reflection on a failed relationship. The song is sung from the perspective of someone who has hurt their partner with lies and unwanted advances. The opening lyrics of the song express a desire to reconnect with the hurt partner. The singer of the song asks why their partner doesn't try to communicate with them through writing or calling, and implores them to send a Western Union telegram. The lyrics of the song also include an admission of guilt on the singer’s part. They confess to leading their partner on with lies and intentionally hurting them. This admission is followed by a sincerity-filled apology.


The song's refrain— "I said I'm sorry"— serves to highlight the somber tone and establish the mood of contrition. The song's third verse; “High love in motion/Walking on the ocean of your sorrow/Round turn the tables/Lost I am a man with no tomorrow,” is a poignant imagery that captures the sense of being lost and desolate that characterizes the subject of the song. This verse communicates the singer's despair and sense of hopelessness. The song ends with a repetition of the opening lyrics, a plea for the hurt partner to reach out and renew communication.


Line by Line Meaning

Why don't you write me
Asking why the person hasn't reached out to him.


Call me on the phone
Requesting the person to phone him.


Send Western Union
Asking for the person to send him a telegram.


You can find me home
Letting the person know he is at home and can be reached there.


I said I'm sorry
Apologizing for his actions.


You know I bled you
Admitting to causing harm to the person.


Led you on a lie (Led me on a lie)
Confessing that he lied to the person.


You say I fooled you
Acknowledging that he deceived the person.


Who's' the fool tonight
Asking rhetorically who is at fault.


High love in motion
Describing the intense emotions of their relationship.


Walking on the ocean of your sorrow
Using a metaphor to express the depth of the person's emotional pain.


Round turn the tables
Turning the situation around.


Lost I am a man with no tomorrow
Feeling lost and alone without the person.


You know lop-sided lovin'
Admitting that his love was one-sided.


It got me in the end (Got me in the end)
Accepting that his actions had consequences.


Looks like I'm done for
Suggesting that the relationship is over.


Now there's no pretending that I'm sorry
Admitting that he truly feels sorry for his actions.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: THOM BELL, WILLIAM HART

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
Comments from YouTube:

Edwards - Aracaju, Brasil

Fantastic Hall & Oates 70's song... beautiful cover!

Matt Dwyer

Awesome, see The Spirit in all the songs he 'covers'! 💙

Sharon Kelley

Yep, Justin can rock out with the best  of them!

Nathan Wolfson

Not one of his better efforts.

More Versions