The Thief
Matthew Thiessen and The Earthquakes Lyrics
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And I understand why you wouldn't want to
I guess it's up to me to find a way to get to you
And I can see you getting used to living in the midst of your perfection
And I'm so lost
How can you trust
Somewhere the sun is always shining
And there's just one last thing that I have to say
It was cowardness that made me push you away
I was so afraid 'cause you were so much better than me
I guess it's safe to say you're never coming back
And I understand why you wouldn't want to
I guess it's up to me to find a way to get to you
In "The Thief," Matthew Thiessen and The Earthquakes tackle themes of regret and heartbreak. The singer acknowledges that their partner will likely never return, and they understand why - perhaps they mistreated or hurt them. The singer grapples with their own sense of inadequacy, feeling lost and unable to trust in the face of their partner's perceived perfection. They long for a way to reach out to their partner, to bridge the gap between them and make amends.
The lines "As we reflect on the mess of all of this I've made / It was cowardness that made me push you away" hint at the singer's culpability in the situation. They recognize that their own fear and insecurity led them to retreat from the relationship, rather than face their problems and work through them. Despite this, the singer seems to hold out hope for reconciliation, expressing a desire to find a way to reach their partner and make things right.
Overall, "The Thief" is a poignant reflection on the pain of lost love and the struggle to own up to one's mistakes. It speaks to the universal experience of heartbreak, and the ways in which even the most seemingly perfect relationships can fall apart.
Line by Line Meaning
I guess it's safe to say you're never coming back
The assumption is that you won't return
And I understand why you wouldn't want to
I comprehend why you'd decline
I guess it's up to me to find a way to get to you
I'll have to discover how to reach you myself
And I can see you getting used to living in the midst of your perfection
You seem comfortable living your life perfectly
And I'm so lost
I'm completely confused
How can you trust
I'm not sure how you could believe in me
Somewhere the sun is always shining
There is a place where it is always sunny
And there's just one last thing that I have to say
I have one last point to make
As we reflect on the mess of all of this I've made
We ponder on the chaos caused by my actions
It was cowardness that made me push you away
My fear caused me to push you aside
I was so afraid 'cause you were so much better than me
I was scared because you are far superior to me
I guess it's safe to say you're never coming back
The assumption is that you won't return
And I understand why you wouldn't want to
I see why you'd decline
I guess it's up to me to find a way to get to you
It's my responsibility to figure out how to reach you.
Contributed by Luke W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.