Missy Higgins (born Melissa Morrison Higgins on August 19, 1983, in Melbour… Read Full Bio ↴Missy Higgins (born Melissa Morrison Higgins on August 19, 1983, in Melbourne, Australia) is one of Australia's most popular female singer-songwriters. Missy (Melissa) was thrust into the limelight in her homeland when her sister entered Missy into a competition, which she won. The competition was conducted by the national alternative broadcaster, Triple J. Although she was still in high school, her song All For Believing quickly became one of the station's most requested tracks of 2001. In 2005, Missy took out 5 major ARIA Awards: Album of the Year (for The Sound Of White), Best Female Artist, Best Pop Release, Breakthrough Artist - Album (for The Sound Of White) and Highest Selling Album.

Breakdown
Missy Higgins Lyrics

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It's alright if you love me
It's alright if you don't
I'm not afraid of you runnin' away honey
I get the feeling you won't

Say there ain't no sense in pretending
Your eyes give you away
Something inside you is feeling like I do

We said all there is to say

Baby,
Breakdown, go ahead and give it to me
Breakdown, honey, take me through the night
Breakdown, now I'm standin' here, can't you see
Breakdown, it's alright
It's alright, it's alright

Breakdown, go ahead and give it to me
Breakdown, honey, take me through the night
Breakdown, now I'm standin' here, can't you see

Breakdown, it's alright
It's alright, it's alright

Overall Meaning

In Missy Higgins's song Breakdown, the lyrics delve into the complexities of a relationship and the emotions that come with it. The first verse clearly shows that the singer is okay with whatever choice the person they're addressing makes- whether they love them or not. The reason being- the singer is aware they cannot change this and doesn't want to live in denial. The second verse points out how sometimes, no matter how much one pretends, their eyes betray their real emotions. It's like both parties know what the other is feeling but refuse to talk about it anymore. The chorus then takes on a different tone where the singer is urging the other person to break down and let all their emotions out. They want the other person to be vulnerable and be themselves, not hide behind a façade. Here the singer accepts everything, the good and the bad, giving a sense of compassion and empathy.

The lyrics can be interpreted in a myriad of ways, but primarily they seem to be about communication in relationships. Often, we find it hard to tell people what's going on inside us- whether out of fear of judgement or fear of loss. The song recognizes this and instead encourages the person to breakdown and be honest. It understands that communication and honesty is key, and without that, a relationship will have no foundation to stand on. The song is beautifully sung with Higgins's voice and the slow guitar strumming, making it an emotional soother for anyone experiencing a similar situation.

Line by Line Meaning

It's alright if you love me
I'm okay with you loving me

It's alright if you don't
I also understand if you don't love me

I'm not afraid of you runnin' away honey
I'm not scared of the thought of you leaving me

I get the feeling you won't
Although, I have a hunch that you won't really leave

Say there ain't no sense in pretending
Let's not pretend anymore

Your eyes give you away
Your eyes betray the facade

Something inside you is feeling like I do
There's something in you that resonates with me

We said all there is to say
We've already talked everything out

Baby, Breakdown, go ahead and give it to me
Embrace your breakdown and share it with me, my love

Breakdown, honey, take me through the night
We'll get through this breakdown together, my love

Breakdown, now I'm standin' here, can't you see
I'm here for you, can't you see that?