I Refuse To Be Lonely
Phyllis Hyman Lyrics


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I can't hold you like I want to
Can't hold you to the promises you make
You won't be here tonight or any other night

It would be a lie to say I'm not afraid
But to be afraid is something that I've always been
The difference is this time I'm not giving in
Yes, I am alone, yes, I'm on my own
But for the first time in my life
I'm gonna carry on, yes, I'm gonna ache

But I will not break, some things I can choose
And baby I refuse to be lonely to be lonely
I can't change you, I can't blame you

And this time, I'm not even gonna try
You do what you have to do
I'll do the same thing too

You've got a right to say good-bye
But I've got a right to take care of myself
I realize that I come first before anyone else

Yes, I am alone, yes, I'm on my own
But for the time in my life
I'm gonna carry on, yes, I'm gonna ache

But I will not break, some things I can choose
And baby, I refuse to be lonely
Lonely is a place I used to be
But I'm closing that door, I won't live there anymore

Yes, I am alone, yes, I'm on my own
But for the first time in my life
I'm gonna carry on, yes, I'm gonna ache

But I will not break, some things I can choose




And baby, I refuse to be lonely
To be lonely, to be lonely

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Phyllis Hyman's song "I Refuse To Be Lonely" describe the painful realization that a relationship is coming to an end. While the singer cannot hold onto the promises made by her partner, she confirms that she cannot change him, and she won't even try to do so. The song shows that she has in the past, been scared of being alone, but this time, she's choosing not to be. Although she's alone, she's going to carry on aching, but she won't break. She chooses not to feel lonely, as she recognizes that it's a place where she used to be, but now she's pushing the door shut to that past and choosing to live her life.


The lyrics of "I Refuse To Be Lonely" are empowering for anyone in a situation where a relationship has come to an end. The song's message is that one can choose to survive the pain and not give up. The singer will take care of herself; she's not afraid of being alone, and she won't compromise her self-worth to please anyone else. The song reassures listeners that it's okay to be afraid, but it's important to push through it and not dwell on the negative.


Line by Line Meaning

I can't hold you like I want to
I wish I could hold you the way I desire


Can't hold you to the promises you make
I cannot force you to keep your promises


You won't be here tonight or any other night
I know you won't be here with me now or ever


It would be a lie to say I'm not afraid
I would be dishonest if I claimed I am not scared


But to be afraid is something that I've always been
Being afraid is not new to me


The difference is this time I'm not giving in
This time, I refuse to give up and succumb to fear


Yes, I am alone, yes, I'm on my own
I acknowledge that I am by myself


But for the first time in my life
But I have decided to do something different


I'm gonna carry on, yes, I'm gonna ache
I will continue living despite the pain


But I will not break, some things I can choose
I will not allow this situation to break me since I have power over some things


And baby I refuse to be lonely to be lonely
I am determined not to be alone


I can't change you, I can't blame you
I cannot alter you, nor can I hold you responsible for my situation


And this time, I'm not even gonna try
I have made a conscious decision not to bother trying to change your mind


You do what you have to do
You will do whatever suits you


I'll do the same thing too
I will also do what is best for me


You've got a right to say good-bye
You are entitled to say farewell


But I've got a right to take care of myself
However, I have a right to prioritize my needs


I realize that I come first before anyone else
I understand that my well-being should always matter more to me than anyone else's


Lonely is a place I used to be
I have been in a lonely situation before


But I'm closing that door, I won't live there anymore
However, I am sealing off that chapter and choosing not to dwell there anymore


And baby, I refuse to be lonely
Ultimately, I won't let loneliness overpower me


To be lonely, to be lonely
Being alone is not something I aspire to be




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JUD J. FRIEDMAN, PHYLLIS HYMAN, NICK MARTINELLI, ALLAN RICH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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