Piece by Piece
Kelly Clarkson Lyrics


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And all I remember is your back
Walking towards the airport, leaving us all in your past
I traveled fifteen hundred miles to see you
Begged you to want me, but you didn't want to

But piece by piece, he collected me up
Off the ground, where you abandoned things, yeah
Piece by piece, he filled the holes that you burned in me
At six years old and you know
He never walks away
He never asks for money
He takes care of me
He loves me
Piece by piece, he restored my faith
That a man can be kind and a father could stay

And all of your words fall flat
I made something of myself and now you wanna come back
But your love, it isn't free, it has to be earned
Back then I didn't have anything you needed, so I was worthless

But piece by piece, he collected me up
Off the ground, where you abandoned things, yeah
Piece by piece he filled the holes that you burned in me
At six years old and you know
He never walks away
He never asks for money
He takes care of me
'Cause he loves me
Piece by piece, he restored my faith
That a man can be kind and a father could stay

Piece by piece
Piece by piece
Piece by piece

Piece by piece
Piece by piece
Piece by piece

Piece by piece, I fell far from the tree
I will never leave her like you left me
And she will never have to wonder her worth
Because unlike you, I'm gonna put her first and you know
He'll never walk away
He'll never break her heart
He'll take care of things, he'll love her
Piece by piece, he restored my faith
That a man can be kind and the father should be great

Piece by piece




Piece by piece
Piece by piece

Overall Meaning

The song "Piece by Piece" by Kelly Clarkson is a powerful and emotional reflection on the impact of a father's absence on a young girl's life. What makes the song particularly intense and evocative is the rawness of Clarkson's vocals, which are filled with a mix of pain, anger, and hope.


The first verse of the song describes a moment of abandonment, as the singer remembers when her father left the family when she was just a child. With the second verse, we understand some years have passed and the singer has made peace with herself, independently building her life and finding new love. She emphasizes the difference between the parenting she had, the one where she has to "earn" love, and the one that her daughter would have, where love is given.


The chorus, "Piece by piece, he collected me up," is a metaphor for the way in which the new man in her life has slowly and patiently helped her heal from the wounds she suffered from her absent father. He has been "collecting" the pieces of her that were "abandoned," and slowly repairing them with his love and devotion. The song paints a poignant picture of the damage that a parent's absence can cause in a young life, but also celebrates the possibility of healing through the love of others.



Line by Line Meaning

And all I remember is your back
I only remember seeing your back as you walked away from us and left us behind.


Walking towards the airport, leaving us all in your past
You were walking away from us, leaving us in your past as you headed to the airport.


I traveled fifteen hundred miles to see you
I went through the trouble of traveling fifteen hundred miles just to see you.


Begged you to want me, but you didn't want to
I pleaded with you to love me, but you didn't have any desire to do so.


But piece by piece, he collected me up
Gradually, he gathered me up piece by piece.


Off the ground, where you abandoned things, yeah
He lifted me up from where you left me behind, abandoned on the ground.


Piece by piece, he filled the holes that you burned in me
Slowly, he patched up the wounds that you caused in me.


At six years old and you know
It all started when I was just six years old.


He never walks away
He has never walked away from me.


He never asks for money
He has never asked me for money.


He takes care of me
He has always taken care of me.


He loves me
He loves me unconditionally.


Piece by piece, he restored my faith
Bit by bit, he helped me regain my faith.


That a man can be kind and a father could stay
He showed me that a man can be compassionate, and a father can stay in his child's life.


And all of your words fall flat
Everything you say lacks sincerity and value.


I made something of myself and now you wanna come back
After I became successful, now you want to come back into my life.


But your love, it isn't free, it has to be earned
Your love isn't freely given, it has to be earned.


Back then I didn't have anything you needed, so I was worthless
At that time, I didn't have anything you wanted, so you thought I was worthless.


Piece by piece, he collected me up
Gradually, he gathered me up piece by piece.


Off the ground, where you abandoned things, yeah
He lifted me up from where you left me behind, abandoned on the ground.


Piece by piece he filled the holes that you burned in me
Slowly, he patched up the wounds that you caused in me.


At six years old and you know
It all started when I was just six years old.


He never walks away
He has never walked away from me.


He never asks for money
He has never asked me for money.


'Cause he loves me
Because he loves me unconditionally.


Piece by piece, he restored my faith
Bit by bit, he helped me regain my faith.


That a man can be kind and the father should be great
He showed me that a man can be compassionate and that a great father is essential.


Piece by piece
Gradually, piece by piece.


Piece by piece
Gradually, piece by piece.


Piece by piece
Gradually, piece by piece.


Piece by piece
Gradually, piece by piece.


Piece by piece
Gradually, piece by piece.


Piece by piece, I fell far from the tree
Slowly, I became very different than you.


I will never leave her like you left me
I will never abandon my child like you abandoned me.


And she will never have to wonder her worth
My child will never have to feel unsure of her value.


Because unlike you, I'm gonna put her first and you know
I will prioritize my child unlike you ever did.


He'll never walk away
He will never walk away from her.


He'll never break her heart
He will never cause her pain or heartbreak.


He'll take care of things, he'll love her
He will take care of her and love her unconditionally.


Piece by piece, he restored my faith
Gradually, he helped me regain my faith.


That a man can be kind and the father should be great
He showed me that a man can be compassionate and that a great father is essential.


Piece by piece
Gradually, piece by piece.


Piece by piece
Gradually, piece by piece.


Piece by piece
Gradually, piece by piece.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Gregory Kurstin, Kelly Clarkson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@theharshtruthoutthere

@@jno1783 Judging the entertainers righteously:
they are:
DECEIVERS
MTFs and FTMs
cowards
masons puppets
greedy
in love of all lies
demon possessed
members of one big club: FREEMASONRY

And they all let us know, by placing the masonic hand signs and symbols into all music videos, movies, concerts, magazines…..



@tiddies2870

When you have a father who nags at you to do stuff like brush your teeth before bed, who embarrasses you at school, and constantly tells you he's got his gun loaded for anyone who breaks your heart, it gets annoying.

It gets annoying because you think he'll always be there to bug the hell out of you, and you really take an annoying father for granted.

When really, you're lucky to have a watchful father who cares enough to let your teacher know you've got a stomache ache and if it gets worse to please let you go to the bathroom. You're lucky to have someone to love you and care for you, and you really take it for granted.

I was blessed with a father like this, who got up with me at four am because I had a nightmare, and who did all of the (oddly specific) actions above. My parents aren't together, but he says it won't stop him from seeing his baby girl.

But even with this, my heart and prayers go out to everyone who hasn't had a father in their life, and I really wish things would be better for you. It breaks my heart that some people don't have someone to fall back on, and I really just want to help in any way I can. Whether it be prayers or just talking it out, I'd be glad to.

I just want to let everyone who has a father know that they're extremely lucky, one in a billion. Go give your father a hug and just thank him for plain being there. Thank him for being there when you hurt and for not leaving when you acted out.

Because you never know what tomorrow will bring.



@Evilfighter94

And all I remember is your back
Walking towards the airport
Leaving us all in your past
I traveled fifteen hundred miles to see you
Begged you to want me
But you didn't want to

But piece by piece, he collected me
Up off the ground where you abandoned things
And piece by piece, he filled the holes
That you burned in me at six years old

And no, he never walks away
He never asks for money
He takes care of me
He loves me

Piece by piece, he restored my faith
That a man can be kind and a father could stay


And all of your words fall flat
I made something of myself
And now you wanna come back
But your love, it isn't free
It has to be earned
Back then I didn't have anything you needed
So I was worthless

But piece by piece, he collected me
Up off the ground where you abandoned things
And piece by piece, he filled the holes
That you burned in me at six years old

And no, he never walks away
He never asks for money
He takes care of me
'Cause he loves me

Piece by piece, he restored my faith
That a man can be kind and a father could stay

Piece by piece...
Piece by piece...
Piece by piece...
Piece by piece...
Piece by piece...
Piece by piece...

Piece by piece
I fell far from the tree
I would never leave her like you left me
She will never have to wonder her worth
Because unlike you I'm gonna put her first
And no, he'll never walk away
He'll never break her heart
He'll take care of things
He'll love her
Piece by piece, he restored my faith
That a man can be kind and a father should be great
Piece by piece...
Piece by piece...
Piece by piece.



@rebeccaabiantoun

Lyrics ❤️
And all I remember is your back
Walking towards the airport, leaving us all in your past
I traveled fifteen hundred miles to see you
I begged you to want me, but you didn't want to
But piece by piece, he collected me up
Off the ground, where you abandoned things
Piece by piece he filled the holes that you burned in me
Six years old and you know
He never walks away
He never asks for money
He takes care of me
He loves me
Piece by piece, he restores my faith
That a man can be kind and the father could, stay
And all of your words fall flat
I made something of myself and now you wanna come back
But your love, it isn't free, it has to be earned
Back then I didn't have anything you needed so I was worthless
But piece by piece, he collected me up
Off the ground, where you abandoned things
Piece by piece he filled the holes that you burned in me
Six years old and you know
He never walks away
He never asks for money
He takes care of me
'Cause he loves me
Piece by piece, he restored my faith
That a man can be kind and a father could, stay
Piece by piece
Piece by piece I fell far from the tree
I will never leave her like you left me
And she will never have to wonder her worth
Because unlike you I'm going to put her first and you know
He'll never walk away,
He'll never break her heart
He'll take care of things, he'll love her
Piece by piece, he restored my faith
That a man can be kind and the father should be great
Piece by piece
Piece by piece



All comments from YouTube:

@samanthashafer1742

With Father's Day coming up, I'm giving a shout out to the fatherless daughters and sons out there. You are not alone.

@martinabatallaa

Sam Skyhawk Shafer thank u so much

@samanthashafer1742

@@hanafidiaaelhaq5264 I'm sorry.

@hanafidiaaelhaq5264

@@samanthashafer1742 dont be ! U did nothing wrong , u re so sweet :)

@samanthashafer1742

@@hanafidiaaelhaq5264 i just know the pain it causes... I've hady own father tell me he didn't want to see me anymore and then a year later tell me i was the one who left.

@samanthaseymour2133

Thanks i dont have a father never did

263 More Replies...

@lovemytide45

I adopted my daughter when she was 11. Her “father” abandoned her when she was 7 . This songs hits home. I love you Bailey and I’m glad I came into your life,

@jburrows24

This is so sweet! <3

@Bearmountan

I have mad respect for people who adopt! It's very trying and hard- you all are very special!🙏💙

@amintz0969

From a fatherless daughter, thank you for loving that little girl.

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