Real Smart
Lou Doillon Lyrics


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I'm always real smart
At fucking things up
And saying what one, should never say,
If you plan on him to stay

No I don't need you to tell me,
For I know I'm the one to blame,
It's funny how, as soon as I hold you,
I can't help but to throw you away,

But don't don't don't hold it against me,
No don't don't don't hold it against me,
For I hold the two ends of my own tragedy

I'm always real fast,
At giving you up,
You call me tough and I agree,
But you knew this when you came looking for me

No I don't need you to tell me
For I know I'm the one to blame,
It's funny how, as soon as I hold you,
I can't help but to push you away

But don't don't don't hold it against me
No don't don't don't hold it against me,
For I hold the two ends of my own tragedy

No I don't need you to tell me,
For I know I'm the one to blame,
It's funny how as soon as I hold you
I can't help but to throw you away,

But don't don't don't hold it against me




No don't don't don't hold it against me,
For I hold the two hands of my own tragedy.

Overall Meaning

Lou Doillon's song "Real Smart" captures the experience of self-sabotage in romantic relationships. The opening lyrics, "I'm always real smart at fucking things up," reveals the singer's awareness of her own tendency to destroy any potential for a lasting connection. She admits that she says things she shouldn't, and pushes people away even when she's just begun to hold them close. The repetition of the phrase "I don't need you to tell me" signals her understanding that it's entirely her fault when things fall apart.


However, despite her own culpability, the singer is still struggling to break her patterns. The chorus, with its plea not to hold her actions against her, is an acknowledgement that she's not yet figured out how to stop herself from causing heartbreak. It's not a lack of desire that leads her to self-destruction, but rather an entrenched habit that she can't seem to shake: "But you knew this when you came looking for me."


The final line, "For I hold the two hands of my own tragedy," is a powerful metaphor for the singer's predicament. She is both the architect and the victim of her own undoing, holding the two ends of a rope that she keeps pulling until it unravels. In this song, Doillon captures the feeling of being trapped in a cycle of self-destruction, unable to free oneself from one's own patterns of behavior.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm always real smart
I am always skilled in sabotaging any chances of a successful relationship.


At fucking things up
At ruining everything with my actions.


And saying what one should never say
And making inappropriate comments that lead to problems.


If you plan on him to stay
If you intended for him to remain in the relationship.


No I don't need you to tell me
I am well aware of my self-destructive tendencies.


For I know I'm the one to blame
It is my fault for any negative outcome in the relationship.


It's funny how, as soon as I hold you,
It is ironic how my actions lead to pushing you away.


I can't help but to throw you away
I cannot resist the impulse to end the relationship.


But don't don't don't hold it against me
Please do not blame me for the consequences of my actions.


For I hold the two ends of my own tragedy
I am responsible for my own downfall and misery.


I'm always real fast,
I am always quick at giving up on relationships.


At giving you up
At ending things with you.


You call me tough and I agree,
You perceive me as strong but I acknowledge my flaws.


But you knew this when you came looking for me
You were aware of my tendencies when you pursued me.


No I don't need you to tell me
I am fully aware of my shortcomings.


It's funny how, as soon as I hold you,
It is ironic how my actions lead to pushing you away.


I can't help but to push you away
I cannot resist the impulse to distance myself from you.


But don't don't don't hold it against me
Please do not blame me for the consequences of my actions.


For I hold the two ends of my own tragedy
I am responsible for my own downfall and misery.


No I don't need you to tell me,
I am fully aware of my shortcomings.


For I know I'm the one to blame
It is my fault for any negative outcome in the relationship.


It's funny how, as soon as I hold you
It is ironic how my actions lead to pushing you away.


I can't help but to throw you away
I cannot resist the impulse to end the relationship.


But don't don't don't hold it against me
Please do not blame me for the consequences of my actions.


No don't don't don't hold it against me
Please do not blame me for the consequences of my actions.


For I hold the two hands of my own tragedy.
I am responsible for my own downfall and misery.




Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: ETIENNE DAHO, LOU DOILLON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Opdebeeck Jean-Marie

Absolutely superb ! Voice, song, lyrics and paintings. a jewel !

Marylou Marylou

Magnifique pièce de Lou, et merci pour le beau montage vidéo.

Mlle.AC

De qui sont tous ces tableaux????? Magnifique! Merci!

ututura

so fucking good! amazing! 

Maria Gonzalez

Que dulce la melodia saludos dsd lima peru amor y paz

DeavomSee

Wonderful.

TIPSPIT87

Merci pour votre commentaire, le nom des peintres est indiqué dans le générique de début de vidéo : Hamish Blakely, Hopper, Brent Lynch et Jack Vettriano.

Jason van Hamburg

Hello, do you know who the illustrations are by?

TIPSPIT87

thank you for your comment.

Nuca Labadze

love