In My Tribe. Merchant joined 10,000 Maniacs at the age of 17 and became the band's driving artistic force. After a pair of successful independent releases, they signed to Elektra in 1985 and briefly became one of the most popular acts in alternative rock, shooting into the Top 40 with 1987's In My Tribe and charting even higher with their follow-up effort, Blind Man's Zoo. Merchant's desire to launch a solo career increased alongside the band's growing reputation, however, and by the time the group sat down to record 1992's Our Time in Eden, she gave her bandmates two years' notice. Following the release of MTV Unplugged in 1994, she publicly announced she was leaving the group's ranks.
OpheliaMerchant made her solo debut with 1995's Tigerlily, a self-produced album that debuted at number 13 and scored a Top Ten single with "Carnival." Two additional singles, "Wonder" and "Jealousy," also cracked the Top 40, prompting Tigerlily to sell over five million copies in the U.S. alone. It was followed in 1998 by Ophelia, another platinum-selling effort that was supported by Merchant's inclusion in the second Lilith Fair tour. Live in Concert, recorded at New York's Neil Simon Theatre, appeared a year later. A prominent social activist, Merchant also drew notice by campaigning in the name of such hot-button issues as animal rights, domestic violence, and homelessness.
MotherlandMerchant launched a folk tour in 2000, with members of progressive folk band the Horse Flies joining her on the road. She then returned to her solo career with Motherland. Two years later, Merchant left Elektra's roster and formed her own independent label, Myth America, in order to issue House Carpenter's Daughter, a collection of traditional and contemporary folk music inspired by the 2000 tour. A long period of silence followed, during which a pair of greatest-hits releases -- the 10,000 Maniacs collection Campfire Songs and Merchant's own Retrospective: 1995-2005 -- kept fans relatively sated. As the decade drew to a close, though, Merchant signed with Nonesuch Records and began making plans for a new album, which eventually arrived in the form of the ambitious, double-disc neo-children's album, 2010's Leave Your Sleep. Merchant returned to straight-ahead pop music with a self-titled album in May 2014.
Break Your Heart
Natalie Merchant Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See the disillusion everywhere
Hoping that their luck will change
It's a little harder every day
People struggle people fight
For the simple pleasures in their lives
The trouble comes from everywhere
It's a little more than you can bear
I know it will break your heart the way things are
And the way they've been
And the way they've always been
People shallow self absorbed
See the push and shove for their rewards
With nothing nice on their minds
You can read about it in their eyes
People ruthless, people cruel
The damage that some people do
Full of hatred, full of pride
It's enough to make you lose your mind
I know that it will hurt
I know that it will break your heart the way things are
And the way they've been
Yeah I know that it will hurt
I know it will hurt
I know that it will break your heart
The way things are and the way they've been
Don't spread discontent, don't spread the lies
Don't make the same mistakes with your own life
You know it will always come back
Yeah, I know that it will hurt
I know that it will hurt
I know that it will break your heart
The way things are and the way they've been
Don't spread discontent, don't spread the lies
Don't make the same mistakes with your own life
And don't disrespect yourself, don't lose your pride
And don't think everybody is gonna chose your side
Oh no... Oh no... no..
The song "Break Your Heart" by Natalie Merchant is a commentary on the struggles and injustices that people face in everyday life. The opening lyrics describe people who are downcast and disillusioned, hoping for a change in their luck but finding that their lives are only getting harder. The second verse highlights the selfish and ruthless nature of some individuals who are more concerned with their own rewards than the wellbeing of others. The chorus, which repeats the line "I know it will hurt, I know it will break your heart," acknowledges the pain and suffering that these injustices can cause.
In the final verse, the song becomes more personal, reminding listeners not to spread discontent or lies or make the same mistakes with their own lives. The lyrics caution against disrespecting oneself or losing pride and assuming that everyone will be on your side.
The song's somber melody and Merchant's passionately delivered vocals underscore the serious tone of the message. Overall, "Break Your Heart" is a powerful call for empathy and understanding in a world that often seems cruel and unfair.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh people downcast in despair
The song starts with acknowledging the people who are sad and hopeless.
See the disillusion everywhere
The disillusionment and disappointment are all around us and hard to ignore.
Hoping that their luck will change
People are always hoping for a change in their fortune.
It's a little harder every day
However, with each passing day, it seems like it's getting harder to achieve happiness.
People struggle people fight
Everyone is fighting for their simple pleasures and happiness.
For the simple pleasures in their lives
People are fighting for happiness in small joyous moments of life.
The trouble comes from everywhere
In contrast, troubles and difficulties find their way from everywhere and impact people's lives.
It's a little more than you can bear
It can be emotionally hard for people to deal with their problems.
I know it will be hurt
The songwriter recognizes that it's hard and painful to see the world around us.
I know it will break your heart the way things are
The songwriter feels that the current state of things can make people feel heartbroken.
And the way they've been
This heartbreak is not only limited to the present, but also historical patterns that people have endured.
People shallow self-absorbed
People can sometimes be thoughtless and only think of their own gains.
See the push and shove for their rewards
They are determined to go to any lengths to achieve them, even if it harms others.
With nothing nice on their minds
They don't care for the welfare of others and put their own interests before anything else.
You can read about it in their eyes
Their selfish, cruel behavior can be seen in their eyes.
People ruthless, people cruel
The songwriter acknowledges that some people are truly ruthless and cruel in their actions.
The damage that some people do
These people cause harm to others in their pursuit of selfish interests.
Full of hatred, full of pride
Their actions are often motivated by hatred and pride.
It's enough to make you lose your mind
Their inhumane behavior can be incredibly maddening to witness.
Don't spread discontent, don't spread the lies
The songwriter urges people to resist spreading false information or ruining other people's reputation.
Don't make the same mistakes with your own life
The songwriter advises people to learn from other's mistakes and not repeat the same ones in their own life.
And don't disrespect yourself, don't lose your pride
People are advised to respect themselves and not lose their self-respect.
And don't think everybody is gonna chose your side
Finally, the songwriter tells people not to expect everyone to be on their side at all times.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: NATALIE A MERCHANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind