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.
ruins
Melissa Etheridge Lyrics
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There are some bridges that burn
Beyond recognition beyond repair
Don't say you've changed
There are some forces that turn
Beyond recollection beyond my stare
When I feel the cold in the dark
I know you're there
Long ago I was a woman in pain
A woman in need
I ran to you
Long ago I did not understand
You were making me bleed
I ran to you
When I feel the cold in the dark
I know what you do
I will crawl through my past
Over stones blood and glass
In the ruins
Reaching under the fence
As I try to make sense
In the ruins
I know your heart has held its own fear
It's perfectly clear
What they did to you
In my heart it's the screaming I hear
I won't let them come near
Since my love knew you
When I feel the cold in the dark
I remember you
I will crawl through my past
Over stones blood and glass
In the ruins
Reaching under the fence
As I try to make sense
In the ruins
Night after night
I am carving it out
I will carry it down to the waterside
Night after night
I am hearing the sound
Of wings that come beating
I will not hide
When I feel the cold in the dark
I will know why
I will crawl through my past
Over stones blood and glass
In the ruins
Reaching under the fence
As I try to make sense
In the ruins
But if I am to heal
I must first learn to feel
In the ruins
I will crawl
The song "Ruins" by Melissa Etheridge deals with the aftermath of a toxic relationship. The lyrics suggest that the relationship has left emotional scars that cannot be easily healed. The singer tells the other person not to try to reconnect because the bridge has been burned beyond repair. The forces that tore the relationship apart are beyond recollection and can only reside in the memory of the singer. The lyrics suggest that the person in question has caused immense pain in the past and the singer is still feeling the aftershocks of that pain.
The singer is portrayed as a woman who is trying to make sense of her past. She is crawling through her past over stones, blood, and glass, which are all metaphors for the hardships she has faced. The ruins represent her past, which she is determined to make sense of. Night after night, she carves out the pain and carries it down to the waterside. She hears the sound of wings beating and is determined not to hide. The ending of the song suggests that the singer has to learn to feel in the ruins if she is to heal.
Overall, "Ruins" is a powerful song about the aftermath of a toxic relationship. It portrays the emotional scars that can be left behind and the struggle to make sense of the past and move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't try to call
I don't want to talk to you
There are some bridges that burn
Our relationship is irreparable
Beyond recognition beyond repair
Our relationship is damaged beyond repair
Don't say you've changed
I don't believe you've changed
There are some forces that turn
There are some things that can't be undone or fixed
Beyond recollection beyond my stare
I can't even remember what it was like before
When I feel the cold in the dark
When I feel alone and vulnerable
I know you're there
I know you're in my memories
Long ago I was a woman in pain
I was hurting and needed support
A woman in need
I needed someone to lean on
I ran to you
I turned to you for comfort
Long ago I did not understand
I didn't realize how much you were hurting me
You were making me bleed
You were causing me pain
When I feel the cold in the dark
When I feel alone and vulnerable
I know what you do
I remember how you hurt me
I will crawl through my past
I will confront my past
Over stones blood and glass
Despite the difficulties and pain
In the ruins
In the aftermath of my past experiences
Reaching under the fence
Trying to understand what happened
As I try to make sense
As I try to understand the events of the past
Night after night
Repeatedly
I am carving it out
I am working through my emotions
I will carry it down to the waterside
I will let go of my pain
Of wings that come beating
Of hope and new beginnings
I will not hide
I will face my past
When I feel the cold in the dark
When I feel alone and vulnerable
I will know why
I will understand my past experiences
But if I am to heal
In order to heal
I must first learn to feel
I must confront my emotions
In the ruins
In the aftermath of my past experiences
I will crawl
I will keep working through my past
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MELISSA ETHERIDGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind