Living Colour rose to fame with their debut album Vivid in 1988. Although the band scored a number of hits, they are best remembered for their signature anthem "Cult of Personality", which won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1990. They were also named Best New Artist at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards and won their second Grammy Award for their follow-up album Time's Up. After disbanding in 1995, Living Colour reunited in late 2000.
Broken Hearts
Living Colour Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And bits of aspiration lying in the sand
The stained glass wall of love that I cannot see through
Provides the only light here in my lonely room
A breeze reminds me of the changing time and place
A tear that takes forever rolls down your timeless face
But when they do they're never good as new
I wish right now I could change it back
I never meant to do the things I did to hurt you
I never really thought that it would come to this
Sometimes the things you lose are often the things you miss
I see the reason for things I used to do
They're all transparent now and so I see the truth
I hear they say that broken hearts will men
But when they do they're never good as new
I wish right now that I could change it back
I know you don't believe but I care about you
And I never meant to do those things I did to hurt you
Living Colour's song "Broken Hearts" is a reflection of the pain and sorrow of a person who has caused irreparable damage to a loved one. The lyrics are a contemplation of the past and present, as well as a lamentation of lost dreams and aspirations. The shattered glass wall of love that the singer cannot see through is a symbol of the emotional barrier that has been erected between the two lovers. The only light left in the room is the memory of what could have been.
The singer is haunted by the memory of the person they've hurt. The tears on their face are a reminder that time is always moving forward and that consequences never really go away. The singer wishes they could change the past, but they know that broken hearts don't mend as good as new. They understand that the hurt they've caused is irreversible and that the relationship will never be the same again. The singer desires to make things right with their loved one but knows that their words may fall on deaf ears.
The song's mournful lyrics and melancholic melody capture the regret and sadness of a person who has lost someone they love. The song's message is relatable as so many people have hurt someone they care about and wish they could make things right. The song's title is fitting as it is a piercing reminder that the damage caused by broken hearts is not easily forgotten.
Line by Line Meaning
I see the fragments of the dreams I used to have
I am reminded of the pieces of the dreams I once held dear.
And bits of aspiration lying in the sand
I see remnants of my aspirations left behind.
The stained glass wall of love that I cannot see through
I feel trapped behind a seemingly impenetrable wall of lost love.
Provides the only light here in my lonely room
The painful memories of my lost love are all that light my lonely room.
A breeze reminds me of the changing time and place
The wind serves to remind me of the fleeting nature of time and change.
A tear that takes forever rolls down your timeless face
A tear painfully lingers on your timeless face, reminding me of my wrongs.
I hear that they say that broken hearts will mend
I hear the adage that broken hearts can be mended.
But when they do they're never good as new
However, once mended, they are never the same as before.
I wish right now I could change it back
I desperately wish I could turn back time and undo the wrongs I committed.
I never meant to do the things I did to hurt you
I wholeheartedly regret the things I did that caused you pain.
I never really thought that it would come to this
I never imagined that things would end up like this.
Sometimes the things you lose are often the things you miss
Sometimes, losing something makes you realize how much it meant to you.
I see the reason for things I used to do
I can now see the reasons behind the things I did in the past.
They're all transparent now and so I see the truth
The past is now clear to me, and I can see the truth of my actions.
I hear they say that broken hearts will men
Once again, I hear that broken hearts can heal over time.
But when they do they're never good as new
But, once again, things will never be exactly as they once were.
I wish right now that I could change it back
I still yearn to change the past and make things right.
I know you don't believe but I care about you
I understand that you may not believe me, but I truly care about you.
And I never meant to do those things I did to hurt you
My intentions were never to cause you pain, and I deeply regret any and all hurt I caused you.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: REID
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bl4ckN3on
I see the fragments of the dreams I used to have
And bits of aspiration lying in the sand
The stained glass wall of love
That I cannot see through
Provides the only light
Here in my lonely room
A breeze reminds me of a changing time and place
A tear that takes forever rolls down your timeless face
[Chorus]
I hear they say that broken hearts will mend
But when they do they're never good as new
I wish right now that I could change it back
I never meant to do the things I did to hurt you
[Verse 2]
I never really thought that it would come to this
Sometimes the things you lose are often the things you miss
I see the reasons for the things I used to do
They're all transparent now and so I see the truth
Hoah, hoah
irritablearchitect
I listen to this song, now almost 25 years later, and it both reminds me of those great times in my youth, as well as still being an utterly great tune. Beautifully orchestrated, played, written, sand and produced. An underrated classic if there ever was one.
Rob Sanz
I'm presuming the Appreciation has just grown. 💜
Rob Sanz
How do you feel about it Now...8 years after you posted your comment? 💚💔💛
touchtoomuch1000
One of the greatest debut albums of all times.
tpizzle028
Bought this cassette when it first came out. Still love it today
Mike4metal
touchtoomuch1000 I agree! This album and band mean so much to me! Still listen often!🤘🏻👍
Mike4metal
I love this song so much! Been listening since the 80”s and it still makes me emotional🤘🏻❤️👍🏻
walterzurc cruz
Living colour , uma banda fantástica que não esqueço, amo sua música!
SKYZTHELIMIT514
Got this album when it came out, I was 13 yrs old, and this is my favorite track by Living Colour, and one of my favorite songs of all time...an artistic masterpiece, some deep soul funk rock on a bluesy tip...thank you #livingcolour you guys are awesome...still! You made history!
Mark Flapper
Today I agree with that statement! Simply cause my heart was now yearning for this song to soak me through…. ;-)