Nothing Breaks Like a Heart
Pretenders Lyrics


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You don't love me anymore
I can feel it
But I want you more than before
So I conceal it
Walk on, walk on babyt
Don't look back
This happy face is just a disguise
Oh baby
When love dies

Nothing breaks like a heart
Nothing breaks like a heart
Glass shatters, even cars fall apart
Nothing breaks like a heart

When you walked out
At first I celebrated
But this footlose fancy free stuff's overrated

Oh I got my way
Now I'm free to roam
These tears of laughter are just lies
Oh baby
When love dies

Nothing breaks like a heart
Nothing breaks like a heart
Glass shatters, even cars fall apart
Nothing breaks like a heart

Oh, oh, oh
I feel so bad bad bad
Oh, oh oh
I'm so sad sad sad
I wasn't this shook in the LA earthquake
How much can one heart break?

You don't love me anymore
I can feel it
But I want you more than before
So I conceal it
Walk on, walk on baby
Don't look back
This crumbling heart is no surprise
Oh baby, when love dies
Nothing breaks like a heart
Nothing breaks like a heart
Glass shatters, even cars fall apart
Nothing breaks like a heart
Oh, nothing breaks like a heart




Oh, nothing breaks like a heart
Oh, nothing breaks like a heart

Overall Meaning

The song "Nothing Breaks Like a Heart" by The Pretenders is about a broken heart and the struggle to deal with the aftermath of a breakup. The opening lines, "You don't love me anymore, I can feel it" sets the tone of the song. The singer acknowledges the end of the relationship but holds on to the hope of reconciliation. She wants her lover back, but she conceals her true feelings to avoid rejection. She puts on a happy face, but it is merely a disguise to hide the pain and heartache she is going through.


The chorus, "Nothing breaks like a heart, glass shatters, even cars fall apart," emphasizes the crippling nature of heartbreak. The image of glass shattering and cars falling apart is a metaphor for the way a broken heart can leave a person feeling shattered and ruined. The second verse reveals that, initially, the singer is happy to be free from the relationship. However, she soon realizes that her newfound freedom is not as fulfilling as she had hoped. The tears of laughter are just lies, and she realizes that her heart is still in pieces. The bridge, "Oh, I feel so bad, bad, bad. Oh, I'm so sad, sad, sad" further amplifies the pain and sorrow of the singer.


Overall, "Nothing Breaks Like a Heart" is a haunting and melancholic ballad about the devastating effects of heartbreak. Its relatable lyrics and bittersweet melody are sure to strike a chord with anyone who has ever experienced the pain of losing someone they love.


Line by Line Meaning

You don't love me anymore
I can sense that your love has faded away


I can feel it
I have an intuitive sense that things have changed between us


But I want you more than before
My desire for you has increased despite your feelings for me


So I conceal it
I hide my feelings and pretend that everything is okay


Walk on, walk on baby
I must move forward and leave you behind


Don't look back
I shouldn't dwell on what's already behind me


This happy face is just a disguise
My outward appearance doesn't reflect the pain I feel inside


Oh baby
My dear, beloved one


When love dies
The end of love and the feelings associated with it


Nothing breaks like a heart
The end of love can be devastating, bringing more pain than anything else


Glass shatters, even cars fall apart
Even the strongest things can break or fall apart, including human emotions


When you walked out
When you left me


At first I celebrated
Initially, I was happy to be free of our relationship


But this footloose fancy free stuff's overrated
I soon realized that being single isn't as great as I thought it would be


Oh I got my way
I achieved what I wanted, but it wasn't what I expected


Now I'm free to roam
I have the freedom to do whatever I want, but it's lonely without you


These tears of laughter are just lies
My attempts to act happy are a facade for my true feelings


Oh, oh, oh
An expression of emotional pain


I feel so bad bad bad
I feel extremely sad and guilty


I'm so sad sad sad
I am consumed by sadness and grief


I wasn't this shook in the LA earthquake
My emotional turmoil is worse than any physical disaster I've experienced


How much can one heart break?
I can't take any more heartbreak or emotional pain


This crumbling heart is no surprise
My broken heart is the natural outcome of our situation


Oh baby, when love dies
My dear, beloved one, when we fall out of love


Oh, nothing breaks like a heart
The pain of a broken heart is the worst kind of pain


Oh, nothing breaks like a heart
The devastation of love lost is unparalleled


Oh, nothing breaks like a heart
The sorrow of losing love is unmatched by anything else




Writer(s): Christine Hynde, Thomas Kelly, Billy Steinberg

Contributed by Dominic K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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