Maura O'Connell is an Irish born singer whose melodies gave her a successfu… Read Full Bio ↴Maura O'Connell is an Irish born singer whose melodies gave her a successful career in Ireland before she left for Nashville. She had released many albums, specially memorable is "Feet of a Dancer."
Dé Danann were first to find her - see her web site www.mauraoconnell.com for more information.

Unwinding
Maura O'Connell Lyrics

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The hours pass, the night unwinds
You left my heart a beat behind
Time is a friend and a foe
I never dreamed you would go
Love is a clock unwinding

'Round and around
'til the feelings run down

I toss and I turn
'til I'm all tired out
I know I told you not to worry,
I'll be fine
It's just a matter of the heart
and that takes time to unwind

I saw your sister yesterday
We couldn't find a lot to say
I took an apartment downtown
I'm getting used to it now
Leaving the past behind me

'Round and around
'til the feelings run down
I toss and I turn
'til I'm all tired out
I know I told you not to worry,
I'll be fine

It's just a matter of the heart
and that takes time to unwind

Overall Meaning

In Maura O'Connell's song "Unwinding," the singer reflects on the loss of a lover and the gradual process of moving on. The lyrics suggest a slow passage of time and a struggle with coming to terms with heartbreak. The beginning lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the song, with the arduous journey of overcoming a broken heart being likened to the unwinding of a clock. The singer struggles with the fact that time is both a friend and a foe in the process of moving on, acknowledging that while time will eventually help to heal a broken heart, the process can be painful and slow.

As the song progresses, the singer provides more detail about her life after the loss of her lover. She describes feeling tired from the emotional strain and difficulty in finding solace or meaningful conversation with others, even those close to her, like her lover's sister. The singer also notes that she has moved on externally by renting an apartment downtown, but that she has not completely left the past behind her. The key message of the song may be that healing from heartbreak is a gradual process, and that it takes time to unwind from a broken heart.

Line by Line Meaning

The hours pass, the night unwinds
Time passes and the night goes on

You left my heart a beat behind
You left me feeling incomplete and heartbroken

Time is a friend and a foe
Time can heal wounds, but it can also be a reminder of what's been lost

I never dreamed you would go
I never imagined that you would leave me

Love is a clock unwinding
Love can unravel over time

'Round and around
Emphasizes the cyclical nature of emotions

'til the feelings run down
Until the intense emotions dissipate

I toss and I turn
I'm restless and can't sleep

'til I'm all tired out
Until I'm exhausted emotionally and physically

I know I told you not to worry, I'll be fine
I tried to reassure you that I would be okay

It's just a matter of the heart and that takes time to unwind
Healing a broken heart takes time