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.
The Weakness In Me
Melissa Etheridge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But to you I gave my affection right from the start
I have a lover who loves me
How could I break such a heart
But still you get my attention
Why do you come here
When you know I've got troubles enough
When you know I can't answer the phone
You made me lie
When I don't want to
Make someone else some kind of an unknowing fool
Make me stay
When I should not
Are you so strong or is all the weakness in me
Why do you come here
And pretend to be just passing by
But I need see you
And I mean to hold you tightly
Feeling guilty, worried
Waking from a tormented sleep
Ohh, this old love has me bound
But the new love cuts me deep
If I choose now
I?ll lose out
One of you has to fall
I need you
You, baby
Why do you come here
When you know I've got troubles enough
Why do you call me
When you know I can't answer the phone
And made me lie
When I don't want to
Make someone else some kind of an unknowing fool
Make me stay
When I should not
Are you so strong or is all the weakness in me
Why do you come here
And pretend to be just passing by
But I need see you
And I mean hold you tightly
Melissa Etheridge's The Weakness In Me is a powerful and emotional song that explores the complexities of love and the conflicting emotions that come with it. The lyrics describe a tumultuous love triangle in which the singer is torn between two lovers - one who loves her, and one who she is inexplicably drawn to despite the fact that she knows it is wrong. She describes herself as not being the type of person to fall quickly in and out of love, which makes her situation all the more difficult.
The chorus, "Why do you come here, when you know I've got troubles enough? Why do you call me when you know I can't answer the phone?" speaks to the frustration and confusion that the singer feels about this situation. She knows that this love is causing her pain and hurting those around her, yet she is unable to resist its pull. The line "Are you so strong or is all the weakness in me" acknowledges that the singer is complicit in this situation - she is not just a victim of love, but an active participant in her own emotional turmoil.
The verses further explore the emotional turmoil of this love triangle. The singer describes how her lover loves her deeply and she doesn't want to hurt him, yet she is drawn to the other person who makes her feel alive in a way that her current partner does not. The lines "Feeling guilty, worried, waking from a tormented sleep, this old love has me bound, but the new love cuts me deep" suggest that the singer is conflicted about letting go of her old love and embracing the new one. Ultimately, she recognizes that she cannot have both and someone will have to lose.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not the sort of person who falls in and quickly out of love
I do not easily fall in and out of love like some people do.
But to you I gave my affection right from the start
However, I immediately gave you my love and affection.
I have a lover who loves me
I am loved by someone who is my current partner.
How could I break such a heart
I cannot bear breaking the heart of someone who loves me.
But still you get my attention
Despite my love for my current partner, I am still drawn to you.
Why do you come here
When you know I've got troubles enough
Why do you visit me when you know I am already dealing with so many problems?
Why do you call me
When you know I can't answer the phone
Why do you keep calling me even when you know that I cannot answer the phone?
You made me lie
When I don't want to
Make someone else some kind of an unknowing fool
Make me stay
When I should not
Are you so strong or is all the weakness in me
You have made me lie even though I do not want to, and turned someone else into a fool. You also make me stay even when I should move on. I am not sure if you are so strong or if all the weakness is in me.
And made me lie
When I don't want to
Make someone else some kind of an unknowing fool
Make me stay
When I should not
Are you so strong or is all the weakness in me
You have made me lie even though I do not want to, and turned someone else into a fool. You also make me stay even when I should move on. I am not sure if you are so strong or if all the weakness is in me.
Why do you come here
And pretend to be just passing by
Why do you visit me and act like it was a coincidence?
But I need see you
And I mean to hold you tightly
However, I feel that it is necessary to see you and hold you close to me.
Feeling guilty, worried
Waking from a tormented sleep
Ohh, this old love has me bound
But the new love cuts me deep
I feel guilty and anxious, and I cannot sleep well. I am bound by my old love, but the new love is also causing me pain.
If I choose now
I?ll lose out
One of you has to fall
I need you
You, baby
If I choose now, I will lose one of you. But I need you, you, baby.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOAN ANITA BARBARA ARMATRADING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
nativeaqua85
I love this song and especially sang by Melissa Etheridge Thanks for this video.
craftiwench
this was amazing to experience in concert--goosebumps and tears!
JustDolphy
God - this song is already amazing, but pair it with Melissa's voice and this paired down arrangement - Just CHILLING. BRRRRRAVO.
nktrygg
wow, it's a rare performer who can really pour their whole heart and life into a song this song - and this version is astonishing - just rips my heart apart for her
Marisa Ray-Gooden
Yes yes yes.. Melissa is awesome but no one sings this like Joan.
tisje somers
there are no words for this.... this is so beautifulllllllllll
SpeakTruer
Rare to hear her sing someone elses tune. But, it is Joan Armatrading and she does have some great stuff. I give it a A+ for shit happens and you need to trust your Boo, but don't have to trust the others out there!
Netizka
gosh she's amazing in live !
Nikki Klerks
wish i could met melissa once, just to say how much her music means to me..
steffiehope
This song is currently my life. I am in love with somone who has someone else and I think I'm the one that causes the weakness.