By Myself
Nancy Wilson Lyrics


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The party's over, the game is ended,
the dreams I dreamed went up in smoke.
They didn't pan out as I had intended;
I should know how to take a joke.

I'll go my way by myself, this is the end of romance.
I'll go my way by myself, love is only a dance.
I'll try to apply myself and teach my heart to sing.
I'll go my way by myself like a bird on the wing,
I'll face the unknown, I'll build a world of my own;
No one knows better than I, myself, I'm by myself alone.
I'll go my way by myself, here's how the comedy ends.
I'll have to deny myself love and laughter and friends.
Grey clouds in sky above have put a blot on my fun.
I'll try to fly high above for a place in the sun.




I'll face the unknown, I'll build a world of my own;
No one knows better than I, myself, I'm by myself alone

Overall Meaning

The song "By Myself," written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz, tells the story of a person who is dealing with the end of a romantic relationship, dreams that didn't come true, and the need to start over by herself. The singer reflects on the fact that the party is over, the game is ended, and the dreams she had have gone up in smoke. While she knows that love is only a dance, it doesn't lessen the pain of heartbreak. However, she finds solace in the fact that she can apply herself and teach her heart to sing in order to build a new world for herself.


The singer acknowledges that she must face the unknown by herself and build a world of her own. She must deny herself love, laughter, and friends in order to move forward. Although the grey clouds above have put a blot on her life, she will try to fly high above for a place in the sun. The song ends with her poignant realization that she is by herself alone, but she will face the comedy of life regardless.


The tone of the lyrics is melancholy but optimistic, highlighting the complexity of the singer's emotions. The song resonates with anyone who has faced the end of a relationship or a dream that didn't come true, and the need to start over and build a world of their own.


Line by Line Meaning

The party's over, the game is ended,
The fun times are over and the situation has come to a conclusion.


the dreams I dreamed went up in smoke.
The hopes that I had vanished in front of my eyes without materializing.


They didn't pan out as I had intended;
My aspirations didn't manifest in the way I had planned them to.


I should know how to take a joke.
I should be able to deal with the situation humorously and light-heartedly.


I'll go my way by myself, this is the end of romance.
I'll learn to live independently, this is the conclusion of my romantic relationship.


I'll go my way by myself, love is only a dance.
I'll move ahead independently, love is nothing but a mere temporary social ritual.


I'll try to apply myself and teach my heart to sing.
I'll attempt to focus on self-improvement and happiness from within.


I'll go my way by myself like a bird on the wing,
I'll continue my journey solo, like a bird that flies freely through the sky.


I'll face the unknown, I'll build a world of my own;
I'll deal with the uncertainty of life and construct my own path for myself.


No one knows better than I, myself, I'm by myself alone.
I am the one who understands myself the most because no one else is there to understand me like I do.


I'll go my way by myself, here's how the comedy ends.
I'll walk down the path by myself, this is where the comic play ends.


I'll have to deny myself love and laughter and friends.
I'll have to refuse myself of love, joy, and companionship.


Grey clouds in sky above have put a blot on my fun.
The gloomy clouds above have destroyed my pleasant times.


I'll try to fly high above for a place in the sun.
I'll aim to rise above the melancholy and attain happiness.


I'll face the unknown, I'll build a world of my own;
I'll handle any uncertainties and establish my own unique world.


No one knows better than I, myself, I'm by myself alone
I am the only expert on myself because I'm alone with my thoughts, feelings and experiences.




Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Arthur Schwartz, Howard Dietz

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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