When talking about the song, LeAnn Rimes had this to say: "I carried the title around with me for about eight months, because I was so unsure of how to write it without offending anyone," LeAnn tells ABC of "Borrowed." "I had to be so honest in order to write it ... I call myself 'pathetic' in the song because that's exactly the way I felt. It was just a pathetic situation. It's like, 'LeAnn, how did you get yourself into the situation?' Then there's this other side of me going, 'I love this man with all my heart and he loves me, and this is so complicated.''
What Have I Done
LeAnn Rimes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh my love what have I done?
I shot an arrow in your heart that
I can't take back
When I said, "You were my first love
But you are not my last"
I fed off your forgiving grace
Well I know your pride it must've
Took a beating
When I used your love to rob your freedom
What have I done?
Oh what have I done?
What have I done?
There's a hurt in me I don't understand
What have I done?
What have I done?
I broke the sweetest heart of the only one
That's ever loved me
I don't know what I've become
I need to get back to where I'm from
I'm gonna smash every mirror in this empty house
'Cause like you I don't wanna see myself
Oh what have I done?
What have I done?
There's a hurt in me I don't understand
What have I done?
What have I done?
I broke the sweetest heart of the only one
That's ever loved me
I hope you find someone new
Someone who's worthy of you
Oh when you look back and I know you will
I hope you find a little good in me still
'Cause I loved you enough to let you
I'll always regret
I hope you know
What I have done
Oh what have I done?
What have I done?
There's a hurt in me I don't understand
What have I done?
What have I done?
I broke the sweetest heart of the only one
That's ever loved me
Oh my love what have I done?
Oh my love what have I done?
The lyrics in LeAnn Rimes's song What Have I Done reveal a story about a woman who has broken her lover's heart and is now filled with regret about her actions. She begins by questioning herself, "Oh my love what have I done?" and acknowledges that she has caused irreversible damage by shooting an arrow into her lover's heart that she cannot take back. She confesses that while her lover was her first love, he is no longer her last.
The woman realizes that she has been taking advantage of her lover's forgiveness and love for far too long. She acknowledges that her actions have hurt his pride and used his love to rob him of his freedom. The pain of what she has done leads her to question what she has become and to want to get back to the person she used to be before all of this happened. She feels so much remorse that she wants to smash every mirror in her empty house because she does not want to see herself.
In the end, the woman hopes that her lover will find someone better suited for him and that he will look back and find some good in her. She confesses that while she loved him enough to let him go, she will always regret her actions and what she has done to the only person who has ever loved her.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh my love what have I done?
The singer is questioning and regretting her actions that caused pain to her lover.
I shot an arrow in your heart that I can't take back
The singer hurt her lover deeply and cannot undo the damage she has caused.
When I said, 'You were my first love But you are not my last'
The singer admitted to her lover that she doesn't see a future with him, causing him pain.
For far too long I hid my face I fed off your forgiving grace
The singer took advantage of her lover's forgiveness and did not come forward with her true feelings.
Well I know your pride it must've Took a beating
The singer is aware that her lover's self-esteem suffered because of her actions.
When I used your love to rob your freedom
The singer took advantage of her lover's affection to control and manipulate him.
There's a hurt in me I don't understand
The singer is struggling to comprehend the pain she is feeling after causing heartbreak to her lover.
I broke the sweetest heart of the only one That's ever loved me
The singer acknowledges the gravity of her actions and realizes that she caused pain to the person who loved her the most.
I don't know what I've become I need to get back to where I'm from
The singer is lost and wants to find her way back to her true self before she hurt her lover.
I'm gonna smash every mirror in this empty house 'Cause like you I don't wanna see myself
The singer is filled with self-loathing and wants to rid herself of any reminders of who she has become.
I hope you find someone new Someone who's worthy of you
The singer hopes her lover will find happiness and someone who deserves him.
Oh when you look back and I know you will I hope you find a little good in me still
The singer hopes her lover can see past her actions and remember some good in her.
'Cause I loved you enough to let you I'll always regret
The singer acknowledges that she made a mistake and will always regret not handling the situation differently.
Oh my love what have I done?
The singer continues to question and regret her actions that caused pain to her lover.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DARRELL R BROWN, LEANN RIMES, DAVID FRANCIS BAERWALD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@carolinegodden4364
BINGO ... plus I am well tired of everyday people sticking their noses into PUBLIC FIGURES business.
They are also everyday people and people tend to feel this makes them 'cannon fodder' for negative assessments on their private lives.
People should take a look in the mirror and assess their own moral compass.
It's just not our business. I hate THE CELEBRITY CULT crap industry. I stopped reading it about 10 years back.
Oh, hi and all that just popped out ... a general comment. Maybe others are kindred spirits, maybe not.
Would you like to have your own private life judged and commented on, GLOBALLY???
I LOOK at character.
Spirit is GENDERLESS, people tend to forget this also. Many choose to fling mud at those who may be gay or whatever.
My view is, it ain't my business to know... I don't give a crap.
As long as they are in a loving relationship they are creating LOVE IN THE OUTER WORLD, for the rest of us.
TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS of all kinds, GIVE OUT TOXIC CONSEQUENCES for all.
This is my personal view from an old girl in Australia 61 years old. Hopefully, I have gained a little wisdom and life skills along the way.
Nice to meet you all.
CJ
melbourne Victoria Australia STRAYA Southern HEMISPHERE
6.24 pm Monday 26th September 2022
@MichaelScottSelf
LeAnn Rimes is so underrated. How hypocritical of country radio to turn its back on her because of her personal life years ago - when half of country songs are about cheating. But all the men who've done the same are still in rotation.
@courtneybrubaker9738
Exactly!! Patriarchy approves double standards always in favor of men. Bulls---.
@garyhenderson7332
Leann underrated, in whos eyes, she is the Greatest singer that ever came from the US! We’re else do you hear such emotion &Soul. This woman feels music like no other. Just love her.
@susuileamura8736
Her vocals can move mountains
@silverlakegirl9078
Isn't that ALWAYS the way?
@LeoneDisabilityLaw
She matured past what country music radio has evolved or devolved into.
@phillipmonroe1339
The truth and honesty she explores within this song are beautiful. And her voice is masterful. It can't be easy to be brave enough to speak or sing your truth in a very deep way. I hope people learn to forgive & forget... & remember what an incredible Talent LeAnn is and the pure light both her & her music shines upon the world.
@loissignorino2734
Amen!
@michaelorzolick8424
Unfortunately she has lost her vocal cords 😭 May they heal fast ❤
@danni1993
She needs to produce more songs like this...minimal...with just her pure, beautiful, voice on display. I love seeing "in-studio" videos of her...so emotional. I can FEEL every word she sings.