In October 2004, Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer, and underwent surgery and chemotherapy. At the 2005 Grammy Awards, she made a return to the stage and, although bald from chemotherapy, performed a tribute to Janis Joplin with the song "Piece of My Heart". Etheridge's performance was widely lauded, with India.Arie writing "I Am Not My Hair" about Etheridge. Later that year, Etheridge released her first compilation album, Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled. The album was a huge success, peaking at #14 on the Billboard 200, and going Gold immediately. Her latest release is 4th Street Feeling.
Etheridge is known for her mixture of "confessional lyrics, pop-based folk-rock, and raspy, smoky vocals." She has also been an iconic gay and lesbian activist since her public coming out in January 1993.
I Will Never Be The Same
Melissa Etheridge Lyrics
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Bared your naked soul
And you told me of your plan
How you would never let them know
In the morning of the night
You cried a long lost child
And I tried oh I tried to hold you
But you were young
And you were wild
But, I , I will never be the same
Oh, I , I will never be the same
Caught in your eyes
Lost in your name
I will never be the same
Secrets of your life
I never wanted for myself
But you guarded them like a lie
Placed up on the highest shelf
In the morning of the night
When I woke to find you gone
I knew your distant devil
Must be draggin' you along
But, I , I will never be the same
Oh, I , I will never be the same
Caught in your eyes
Lost in your name
I will never be the same
And you swore that you were bound for glory
And for wanting you had no shame
But I loved you
And then I lost you
And I will never be the same
The song "I Will Never Be The Same" by Melissa Etheridge tells the story of a relationship that was intense and had a significant impact on the singer. The song begins with the singer recalling a conversation with her lover in which the lover confides in her and reveals a plan to never let others know the secrets of their life. The lover appears vulnerable, having bared their soul, and in a fit of emotion, cries like a long lost child. The singer tries to comfort the lover but realizes that the lover is young and wild, perhaps not willing to be comforted.
As the song progresses, the singer reveals her own vulnerability, telling the lover that she never wanted to take control of the secrets of the lover's life but was willing to hold the lover during the night to ease their pain. However, the lover disappears in the morning, leaving the singer to believe that the distant devil of their secrets dragged them away. The song ends with the singer acknowledging that the relationship has changed her, and even though she loved and lost the lover, she will always be different.
Overall, "I Will Never Be The Same" explores themes of vulnerability, intimacy, and the impact of intense relationships on people's lives. The song suggests that no matter how much we invest in some relationships, they may not always work out, and we may be changed in the process.
Line by Line Meaning
So you walked with me for a while
You were with me for some time and we shared some moments together
Bared your naked soul
You opened up to me and revealed the raw truth of who you are
And you told me of your plan
You confided in me your intentions and how you wanted to handle your situation
How you would never let them know
You vowed to keep certain things hidden and never disclose them to others
In the morning of the night
Perhaps the early hours of dawn or the beginning of a new day
You cried a long lost child
You wept like a person who has been searching for something for a long time and has finally found it
And I tried oh I tried to hold you
I attempted to comfort and console you during your time of need
But you were young
You were inexperienced and naive about the world
And you were wild
You had a free-spirited nature and a spontaneous attitude towards life
But, I , I will never be the same
The experience of being with you changed me forever
Caught in your eyes
I was captivated by the way you looked at me
Lost in your name
Your name became my obsession as I thought of you constantly
Secrets of your life
The things you kept hidden and only revealed to me
I never wanted for myself
I did not want to be burdened with your secrets or have to keep them from others
But you guarded them like a lie
You kept your secrets hidden and protected them like they were something you wanted to conceal
Placed up on the highest shelf
Your secrets were put in a safe place where they could not easily be discovered or taken by others
When I woke to find you gone
I realized that you had left me without any explanation or warning
I knew your distant devil
I suspected that something within yourself was causing you to behave in a certain way
Must be draggin' you along
Your inner demons were taking control of your actions and leading you astray
And you swore that you were bound for glory
You were convinced that your actions would lead to great success and achievement
And for wanting you had no shame
You were unapologetic for your desires and did not feel guilty for pursuing them
But I loved you
Despite it all, I cared deeply for you
And then I lost you
You left me and I was unable to find you again
And I will never be the same
The experience of loving and losing you has forever altered me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MELISSA ETHERIDGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind