Sedaka wrote his 1959 hit "Oh! Carol" about his then-girlfriend, Carol Klein, later to become Carole King. In 1963, King released a humorous answer entitled "Oh Neil".
The Laughter In the Rain Songfacts says Sedaka's hits dried up when The Beatles arrived, but then he teamed up with the lyricist Philip Cody and had a a number 1 hit with "Laughter In The Rain." It re-ignited Sedaka's career and he had 6 more Top-40 hits in America by 1977.
Sedaka's voice is in the tenor range.
Breakin Up Is Hard to Do
Neil Sedaka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down dooby doo down down
Comma, comma, down dooby doo down down
Comma, comma, down dooby doo down down
Breaking up is hard to do
Don't take your love away from me
Don't you leave my heart in misery
'Cause breaking up is hard to do
Remember when you held me tight
And you kissed me all through the night
Think of all that we've been through
And breaking up is hard to do
They say that breaking up is hard to do
Now I know
I know that it's true
Don't say that this is the end
Instead of breaking up I wish that we were making up again
I beg of you don't say goodbye
Can't we give our love another try?
Come on, baby, let's start anew
'Cause breaking up is hard to do
(They say that breaking up is hard to do)
Now I know
I know that it's true
(Don't say that this is the end)
Instead of breaking up I wish that we were making up again
I beg of you don't say goodbye
Can't we give our love another try?
Come on, baby, let's start anew
'Cause breaking up is hard to do
(Down dooby doo down down)
Comma, comma, down dooby doo down down
Comma, comma, down dooby doo down down
Comma, comma, down dooby doo down down
Comma, comma, down dooby doo down
The song "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" by Neil Sedaka is a classic pop song originally released in 1962. The song tells the story of a couple considering ending their relationship, but both are struggling with the difficult decision of breaking up. The opening lines of "Do do do, down dooby doo down down" set the catchy tone for the song, and the use of the phrase "comma, comma" adds a playful element to the lyrics.
The song is driven by its memorable chorus, which repeats the line "Breaking up is hard to do" several times, emphasizing the difficulty the couple is facing. The verses highlight the reasons why the couple is struggling with the decision, focusing on the memories they share and the love they once had for each other. The song closes with a plea from the singer to his partner not to say goodbye, asking instead for them to try again and start anew.
Line by Line Meaning
Do do do
N/A
Down dooby doo down down
A nonsensical line to set the song's upbeat tempo
Comma, comma, down dooby doo down down
Another nonsensical line to maintain the song's rhythm
Comma, comma, down dooby doo down down
Repeating the previous line to further the upbeat tone
Breaking up is hard to do
Expressing the theme of the song about the difficulty and pain in ending a relationship
Don't take your love away from me
Pleading for the continuation of their relationship and love
Don't you leave my heart in misery
Stating that leaving and ending the relationship will cause them great pain
If you go then I'll be blue
Elaborating on the previous line's point that leaving will make them sad
'Cause breaking up is hard to do
Reiterating the song's main theme
Remember when you held me tight
Recalling a time when they were happy and in love
And you kissed me all through the night
Continuing to reminisce about good moments in their relationship
Think of all that we've been through
Reflecting on the history that they have shared together
And breaking up is hard to do
Repeating the song's main theme with a more personal angle
They say that breaking up is hard to do
Mentioning a common phrase about how difficult it is to end a relationship
Now I know
Recognizing the truth in that statement
I know that it's true
Confirming the previously mentioned phrase
Don't say that this is the end
Requesting for the relationship to continue rather than end
Instead of breaking up I wish that we were making up again
Expressing the desire to reconcile and fix the issues in the relationship
I beg of you don't say goodbye
Pleading to not end the relationship
Can't we give our love another try?
Asking for a second chance in their relationship
Come on, baby, let's start anew
Proposing a fresh start in their relationship
'Cause breaking up is hard to do
Ending the song with a final repetition of its main theme
(Down dooby doo down down)
Repeating the earlier nonsensical lines to end with the same upbeat tempo
Comma, comma, down dooby doo down down
Continuing the song's rhythm
Comma, comma, down dooby doo down down
Another repetition of the above line
Comma, comma, down dooby doo down down
Ending the song with one last repetition of this line
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Howard Greenfield, Neil Sedaka
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind