The Man That Got Away
Linda Eder Lyrics


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The night is bitter
The stars have lost their glitter
The winds grow colder
And suddenly you're older
And all because of the man, that got away

No more his eager call
The writings on the wall
The dreams you've dreamed
Have all gone astray

The man that won you
Has run off and undone you
That great beginning
Has seen a final inning

Don't know what happened
It's all a crazy game
No more that all time thrill
For you've been through the mill
And never a new love
Will be the same

Good riddance, goodbye
Every trick of his, you're onto
But fools will be fools
And where's he gone to

The road gets rougher
It's lonelier and tougher
With hope you burn up
Tomorrow he might turn
There's just no letup
The livelong night and day

Ever since this world began
There is nothing sadder than
A one man woman




Looking for the man that got away
The man that got away

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Linda Eder's song The Man That Got Away describe the feeling of heartbreak and lost love. The main message of the song is that even though someone may have believed that they found the love of their life, that love can be taken away and everything will change. The singer describes the bitterness of the night, the lack of shining stars, the cold winds, and suddenly feeling older because of the man that got away.


The song continues to describe how the man who once pursued the singer is no longer interested, and his eagerness has vanished. The dreams that the singer held of a life with this man have been shattered. This man that won the singer's heart has undone her and their great beginning together has seen a final inning. The singer is left confused as to what happened, and she realizes that she is playing an endless game. She is haunted by the memory of the great love she once had but knows that nothing can be the same again.


Finally, the song touches on the hope that the singer still has and the never-ending cycle of heartbreak. The road ahead of her will be tougher and lonelier, but she still holds onto the hope that this man may come back to her. However, at the end of the song, the singer admits that there is nothing sadder than a one-man woman looking for the man that got away.


Overall, Linda Eder's The Man That Got Away is a relatable tribute to those who have experienced heartbreak and loss. The songwriting captures the emotions and the vulnerability that comes with being madly in love with someone and then having that love disappear. The lyrics are melancholic, and they describe the pain of a brokenhearted woman looking for the man that got away.


Line by Line Meaning

The night is bitter
The current situation is unpleasant and unsatisfying.


The stars have lost their glitter
Things that were once bright and hopeful now seem dull and unremarkable.


The winds grow colder
The environment surrounding the situation is becoming less welcoming and more hostile.


And suddenly you're older
The experience has aged and wearied you, both physically and emotionally.


And all because of the man, that got away
The source of this experience is the man who has left and moved on from your life.


No more his eager call
The positive and encouraging attention he once gave you is no longer present.


The writings on the wall
The signs indicating his departure were clear and obvious, although you may not have wanted to acknowledge them at the time.


The dreams you've dreamed
The optimistic aspirations you had for your future together have all fallen apart.


Have all gone astray
The plans you had previously been determined to achieve have all been derailed and no longer seem possible.


The man that won you
The man who originally captured your affection and devotion.


Has run off and undone you
His sudden departure has caused you significant harm and/or distress.


That great beginning
The early stages of your relationship were highly promising and exciting.


Has seen a final inning
Those positive aspects have now entirely come to a close and are unlikely to return.


Don't know what happened
You are uncertain about what went wrong and why the relationship ended so suddenly and calamitously.


It's all a crazy game
The dynamics of relationships can be nonsensical and unpredictable, especially in situations such as these.


No more that all time thrill
The intense and exhilarating rush you experienced during your time with him is no longer present.


For you've been through the mill
The experience has left you feeling exhausted and worn out.


And never a new love
Subsequent romances that you may pursue in the future.


Will be the same
Are unlikely to replicate the special qualities and positive feelings that you once shared with the man who got away.


Good riddance, goodbye
You have negative feelings towards him and are glad that he is gone.


Every trick of his, you're onto
You are aware of all his harmful and duplicitous behavior and are no longer capable of being deceived by him.


But fools will be fools
He may continue to pursue and deceive other women, despite the fact that his true character is now exposed.


And where's he gone to
You are uncertain about where he has gone or what he is up to now, but you are no longer under his influence.


The road gets rougher
Your journey through life has now become more strenuous and arduous.


It's lonelier and tougher
Your situation has left you feeling more isolated and destitute than before.


With hope you burn up
Your hopes and aspirations for the future are now burning away and disappearing.


Tomorrow he might turn
There is always the possibility that the man who got away might return and disrupt things even further.


There's just no letup
There seems to be no relief or escape from the pain and suffering that you are constantly experiencing.


The livelong night and day
This experience continues to haunt and disturb you constantly, with no break or respite.


Ever since this world began
Throughout human history, there have been countless examples of people being hurt and abandoned by the ones they love.


There is nothing sadder than
Out of all these stories, this one is among the most emotional and tragic.


A one man woman
A woman who has devoted herself entirely to one man and placed all her faith and trust in him.


Looking for the man that got away
Searching for resolution, peace, and restoration from the man who caused the suffering and heartache in the first place.


The man that got away
The source of all the pain, confusion, and despair that this song speaks of.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harold Arlen, Ira Gershwin

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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