Style: Acoustic, Folk, Sweet, Melancholic.
Influences: James Taylor, David Gray, Amos Lee, Annie Stela, Dan Carruthers, John Mayer, Marc Cohn and Sting
Breathe You in
Mia Carruthers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A little rough around the edges
Hearing stories of the hours passed
In hourglass we race
The one I try to chase
Oh
We talk too much
Telling stories of... nothing real
It's never how we feel
They say time's how we heel.
Hmmmm
Chorus:
I can't see you
I can't breathe you in......no
If I do, I'll never leave again-nn
Oohhh againnn.
Mmhhhmmm
Ooohhhh
I love the concrete,
It's my city grass beneath my feet
And walks with strangers, hundreds of years
My senior
It's not that I can't relate,
It's just the little things that make me
The age i am and the way we were
And all comes back to....
Chorus:
I can't see you
I can't breathe you in......no
If I do, I'll never leave again-nn
I can't see you
Nooo, I can't breathe you in
If I do, I'll never leave again-nnnn
Oohhh againnn.
If I breathe you in.......
The lyrics to Mia Carruthers's song Breathe You In speak of feeling overwhelmed and vulnerable. The singer of the song seems a little rough around the edges and undone by the stories they hear of time passing. The idea of an hourglass race and trying to chase time suggest the fear of missed opportunities or regret. However, when the singer speaks of talking too much and how a million words mean nothing at all, it suggests a lack of communication about real feelings. Instead, they tell stories of nothing real and it's time that heals things.
The chorus of the song is powerful. The singer cannot see or breathe the person in, suggesting that they are afraid of getting too close. If they do, they will never be able to leave again. This could speak to a fear of getting too attached, or perhaps a fear of being hurt. There is a sense of longing in the way the chorus is delivered, almost like the singer wants to get closer but cannot because it's too risky. The last line, "If I breathe you in" is spoken in a way that suggests that the action itself is forbidden or dangerous. Overall, the song creates a powerful sense of vulnerability and fear of getting too close to someone.
Line by Line Meaning
I am undone
I feel emotionally overwhelmed and defeated
A little rough around the edges
I am not perfect and have some rough aspects to my character
Hearing stories of the hours passed
Listening to tales of the past experiences of myself and others
In hourglass we race
Life is like sand in an hourglass, quickly slipping away and racing towards its end
The one I try to chase
I am pursuing someone or something that feels just out of reach
Oh
An expression of emotion, could signify sadness or longing
We talk too much
We often talk without really communicating or understanding each other
A million words mean nothing at all
Using many words to communicate something can still result in a lack of true understanding
Telling stories of... nothing real
Sharing stories that lack authenticity or substance
It's never how we feel
We often struggle to express our true emotions
They say time's how we heel.
The passage of time can help us heal and move on from difficult experiences
Chorus: I can't see you
I am unable to see the person clearly, both physically and emotionally
I can't breathe you in......no
I am unable to fully experience the person's presence and essence
If I do, I'll never leave again-nn
If I become too attached or connected to the person, I will never want to let go
Oohhh againnn.
A repetition of the previous line, emphasizing the strong desire to stay with the person
I love the concrete,
I enjoy the urban landscape and the feeling of being grounded
It's my city grass beneath my feet
Despite living in a city, I still find nature and a sense of groundedness
And walks with strangers, hundreds of years My senior
I am fascinated by the history and stories of the people who have lived before me
It's not that I can't relate,
I can empathize and understand others, but there are certain aspects of my life that are unique
It's just the little things that make me The age i am and the way we were
Small details and experiences make up my identity and connect me to my past
And all comes back to....
Everything in my life is connected and part of a larger narrative
I can't see you
Repeated from the chorus, emphasizing the inability to fully experience the person
Nooo, I can't breathe you in
Also from the chorus, emphasizing the disconnection and inability to intimately connect with the person
If I do, I'll never leave again-nnnn
Once I fully experience the presence of the person, I will never want to leave or be apart from them
Oohhh againnn.
Repeating the previous line to emphasize the strong desire to stay and never leave
If I breathe you in.......
Beginning a thought or reflection on the potential consequences of intimately experiencing the person
Contributed by Adeline P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Teranesha
13 years later and this is still one of my favorite songs! 😍
@CuracaoCow
This song is still EVERYTHING 😍😍😍😍😍
@aliviarobinson6717
I used to listen to this song daily lol
@Jasmine-ot8br
GIRLLLLL I’m getting chills from the memories it’s crazyyy
@CorneliusBistro
Me too
@danielmelendez523
2019 who’s here lol
@indiva02
🖐
@tatianaac93
2020
@TheUndergroundCrooner
👋🏻
@jasonregeling8577
🙋🏻♂️