The Sounds Of Breaking Up
Paul Mac Lyrics


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Oooh
Oohoo

(I close my eyes)
This is the sound
(I voice my fears)
This is the sound of breaking up
(I close my heart)
This is the sound
(So open your ears)
This is the sound of breaking up

Just came to say I'm leaving
Cuz you were never gonna get that much deeper
I didn't wanna stop believin
I wanna be your lover not your keeper

But I-ooah-I
I really loved you so
But you can't step back
See if it fades to black
And here's what you need to know

CHORUS A (X2)
(I close my eyes)
I see what you have done
(I voice my fears)
That I'm not the only one
(I close my heart)
Cuz once broken is enough
(So open your ears)
This is the sound of breaking up

Turn off my phone stop calling
I didn't say that this was gonna be easy
When you got nothing, it's tempting to fall right back
And I know that you know how to please me

But I-ooah-I
I really loved you so
But you can't step back
See if it fades to black
And here's what you need to know

CHORUS A (X2)

CHORUS B (X2)
(I close my eyes)
Just take your things and go
(I voice my fears)
I'm tired of makin up
(I close my heart)
Just leave your key and go
(So open your ears)
This is the sound of breaking up

Overall Meaning

In "The Sounds of Breaking Up," Paul Mac laments the end of a relationship and the need to move on. The chorus is particularly poignant as it speaks to the emotions experienced during a breakup, with the repeated phrases "I close my eyes," "I voice my fears," "I close my heart," and "so open your ears" highlighting a sense of closure and openness while also conveying the pain of the experience. The verses are more specific, with the singer explaining that they are leaving because they can't keep the relationship going and that they want to be a lover, not a keeper. The lyrics also showcase the singer's struggle to let go and resist the temptation to go back to their former partner.


Throughout the song, Paul Mac uses contrast to create tension and build emotional depth. The gentle, ethereal tones of the backing vocals underscore the lyrics, while the driving beat underlines the singer's strength and determination. Similarly, the haunting melody is accompanied by a beat that has a strong influence of pop, r&b and electronic sounds that highlights both the anger and sadness of the situation.


Line by Line Meaning

Oooh
Just a musical interjection, no lyrics


Oohoo
Just a musical interjection, no lyrics


(I close my eyes)
I'm avoiding seeing your face and confronting the situation directly


This is the sound
This is the feeling and noise I experience when I am breaking up with someone


(I voice my fears)
I express my concerns out loud and make them clearly heard


(So open your ears)
I'm telling you to listen carefully to what I'm saying


(I close my heart)
I'm guarding my emotions and keeping them from being vulnerable


Just came to say I'm leaving
I'm here to inform you that I am ending the relationship


Cuz you were never gonna get that much deeper
Our relationship wasn't going to evolve to a deeper level


I didn't wanna stop believin
I wanted to keep believing that we would work out, but couldn't ignore the signs any longer


I wanna be your lover not your keeper
I don't want to have to constantly watch over you, I want a healthy, loving relationship


But I-ooah-I
Here is where I begin to express my deep emotions toward the situation


I really loved you so
I had strong feelings of love for you


But you can't step back
You cannot just take a step back and hope things will work out


See if it fades to black
Our relationship is not a movie, where everything will be resolved and have a happy ending


And here's what you need to know
I'm about to tell you critical, important information


CHORUS A (X2)
Refrain highlighting the sound of breaking up


I see what you have done
I recognize the actions and behaviors you have exhibited


That I'm not the only one
I'm not the first person you have treated this way


Cuz once broken is enough
Once our relationship is broken, I am not willing to give any further chances


Turn off my phone stop calling
I will not engage in further conversation with you


I didn't say that this was gonna be easy
Breaking up is tough, and I did not expect this to be painless


When you got nothing, it's tempting to fall right back
When one is alone, it can be tempting to return to past relationships, even if they ended poorly


And I know that you know how to please me
I recognize and acknowledge your positive qualities and actions in the past


Just take your things and go
You are to take your belongings and leave my life


I'm tired of making up
I'm no longer going to pretend that everything in this relationship is good


Just leave your key and go
You are not to come back to my life


CHORUS B (X2)
Refrain highlighting the sound of breaking up, slightly different phrasing than CHORUS A




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL FRANCIS MCDERMOTT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@petergmred2005

How can one song be so so good and then this exists.

@rachaelmatthews3991

She has a really good voice. I was 19 when this song came out and I am 41 now.

@antetony83

2001 was one of the best years ever. I was 19 back then and went overseas travelling, living carefree. I came back and "the best thing" was playing in pubs in Melbourne. Great times...

@vcaus

Paul Mac is a musical genius.

@coolsofo

Ah yeah Paul Mac and Peta Morris! Wish they had done more together than a few songs!

@saulshepherd5059

Oh, this is so spot on - I feel it. Paul Mac what a talent,

@PurpleDragonz55

This song randomly came to my head after listening other 90s music & it’s so good

@jakemusictvs

Absolutely amazing song! One of my very favourite songs from the early 2000s.

@digbessy

Why isnt this song played on the radio? Its a really good song and I still remember it. I remember watching this on Video Hits.

@Steve50663

Still so good, reminds me of cold heart song. Paul Mac was the dude

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