W, Planningtorock's critically acclaimed 2011 debut on DFA, revealed a visionary and politicised producer. It offered up deeply queered art-pop – tense, atmospheric dance music cut with classical flourishes, and spell-binding androgyny. But it was 2014’s All Love's Legal (“a masterclass in left-of-centre dance music”, Mixmag), released on Rostron's own imprint Human Level, where Planningtorock, with banner-ready slogans (‘ Patriarchy Over And Out’, ‘ Let's Talk About Gender Baby’), revealed their ability to combine pop-oriented music with a political message. Powerhouse offers up something infinitely more personal: emotionally-charged, biographical anthems drawn from Rostron’s lived experiences as a non-binary genderqueer artist, experiences around family, identity and music itself.
The Breaks
Planningtorock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm on fire
I said don't be surprised I'm ripping out my eyes
I'm on fire
We break
We break too easily
We pull all the breaks
Don't be such used until you know the truth
I'm on fire
Don't be such used until you know my truth
I'm on fire
We break
We break too easily
We pull all the breaks
You break too easily
I break too easily
I break too easily
I break too easily
I break too easily
I break too easily
We break too easily
We break too easily
You break too easily
We break too easily
We break too easily
You pull all the breaks
You break to easily
I pull all the breaks
I pull all the breaks too easily
I pull all the breaks
I pull all the breaks too easily
The lyrics to Planningtorock's song "The Breaks" can be seen as a commentary on the fragility of human relationships and how easily they can be broken. The repetition of the phrase "We break too easily" emphasizes this idea, as well as the image of the singer ripping out their own eyes, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for the pain that comes from being hurt in a relationship. The line "Don't be such used until you know the truth" could be a warning to someone who is taking advantage of the singer's vulnerability, or a plea to be seen for who they truly are.
The use of the second person pronoun "you" in the chorus also adds a confrontational element to the song, as if the singer is holding someone else responsible for the brokenness they feel. The repeated refrain of "I break too easily" is a cathartic admission of vulnerability, and the repetition of this line, along with the chorus, creates a sense of building tension.
Overall, "The Breaks" is a deeply introspective and emotional song that deals with the pain of being hurt in relationships, while also acknowledging the role we play in our own brokenness.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't be surprised if I'm ripping out my eyes
I am in such great pain and turmoil that it wouldn't be a surprise if I went to such lengths as ripping out my eyes
I'm on fire
My emotions are intense and burning, making me feel like I'm on fire
We break
As a collective society, we are fragile and prone to breaking under stress and pressures
We break too easily
Our resilience and strength is lacking, causing us to break and crumble at mere obstacles
We pull all the breaks
We tend to stop and hold back progress, whether intentionally or not
You break too easily
As an individual, you seem to lack the strength and resilience to withstand challenges and struggles
Don't be such used until you know the truth
Don't judge me or assume you know me until you know and understand the full extent of my truth
I break too easily
Personally, I am too frail and vulnerable, easily breaking under the weight of my struggles
We break too easily
As a society, our collective resilience is weak and fragile, causing us to easily crumble
You pull all the breaks
You tend to hold back progress, potentially hindering growth and change
I pull all the breaks too easily
Personally, I tend to stop or slow progress, acting as my own hindrance to my growth and success
I pull all the breaks
I tend to slow or stop my own progress and success, acting as a hindrance to myself
I break too easily
Personally, I am too fragile and vulnerable, easily breaking under the weight of my struggles
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: CHRISTOFFER JOHN BERG, JANINE ROSTRON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind