How Insensitive
Laura Fygi Lyrics


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How insensitive I must have seemed
When she told me that she loved me
How unmoved and cold I must have seemed
When she told me so sincerely

Why, she must have asked
Do I just turn and stare in icy silence?
What was I to say
What can you say when a love affair is over?

Now, she's gone away
And I'm alone with a memory of her last look
Vague and drawn and sad, I see it still
All her heartbreak in that last look

How, she must have asked
Could I just turn and stare in icy silence?
What was I to do?

What can one do when a love affair is over?




What can you do when a love affair is over?
It's over

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "How Insensitive" by Laura Fygi are a poignant reflection of a failed love affair. The singer seems to have been unresponsive and unfeeling when their lover expressed their love for them. They berate themselves for their lack of emotional maturity and empathy when their lover laid bare their heart to them. The singer describes their own behavior as "insensitive" and "unmoved and cold," implying that they were not able to reciprocate the feelings that their partner had for them.


The singer then goes on to describe the aftermath of the failed relationship. Their lover has left them, and the only thing they have left is a memory of their last look. The singer paints a picture of the last look as being "vague and drawn and sad," which suggests that their lover was deeply hurt by the experience. The singer seems to have realized too late the depth of their lover's feelings for them and the importance of reciprocating those feelings.


The final lines of the song are a mournful and resigned acknowledgement that the love affair is truly over. The repetition of "What can you do when a love affair is over?" drives home the point that there is nothing left to be done, no way to go back and fix the mistakes that were made.


Overall, "How Insensitive" is a candid and introspective look at the aftermath of a failed love affair. The lyrics are thought-provoking and relatable, touching on the pain of lost love and the self-recrimination that often follows.


Line by Line Meaning

How insensitive I must have seemed
I must have looked unfeeling and unkind in her eyes


When she told me that she loved me
At the time when she confessed her love


How unmoved and cold I must have seemed
I looked emotionless and distant in her perspective


When she told me so sincerely
When she had honestly, earnestly conveyed her affection


Why, she must have asked
The woman might have wondered


Do I just turn and stare in icy silence?
If I appear devoid of emotions and speechless when she expressed her feelings


What was I to say
What would I even tell her?


What can you say when a love affair is over?
What words would suffice when a relationship concludes?


Now, she's gone away
Now that she isn't here anymore


And I'm alone with a memory of her last look
Left with only my recollection of her final expression


Vague and drawn and sad, I see it still
Her uncertain, strained, and sorrowful look that I still visualize


All her heartbreak in that last look
Her anguish and misery portrayed in her final expression


How, she must have asked
She perhaps questioned


Could I just turn and stare in icy silence?
If I could merely stare detachedly and mutely


What was I to do?
But what else could I have done?


What can one do when a love affair is over?
What actions are left to be taken when love ends?


What can you do when a love affair is over?
What steps can one take to move on when love is gone?


It's over
The relationship is done




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Antonio Carlos Jobim, Norman Gimbel, Vinicius De Moraes

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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