I'm The Man
Quo Vadis Lyrics


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It's my time
I'm leaving you
Don't cry
Accept the truth
You know – the thing
It's white for me
It's white for you
But black for us

You suffered
It wasn't my pain
You spoke
It wasn't my word
You slept
It wasn't my dream
You lived
It wasn't my life.

I'm insane and I'm alone
Give me a hand
Cause I'm a man
I'm insane but I 'm alive
I'm bleeding again
Cause I'm a man

It's my time
I'm leaving you
Don't scream
Only this way is good.
Can you hear me
I'm screaming again
Last time
There's nothing to say

You cried
These weren't my tears
You feared
It wasn't my fear
You laught
It wasn't my joy
You died





It was your choice

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Quo Vadis’s song “I’m The Man” express the singer’s detachment from a relationship and a sense of self-discovery that comes with it. The first stanza suggests that the singer has come to a decision that is beneficial to both parties, despite causing separation. The line "You know – the thing, It's white for me, It's white for you, But black for us" reflects the idea of two people who may come to an agreement on something but it doesn't mean the decision made is easy. The second stanza asserts that the singer did not feel the pain or share similar experiences as the partner, even if they were present during those events. The chorus seems to suggest that the singer is struggling with his newfound self-discovery and is crying out for help.


The third stanza provides more insight into the singer's mental state as they refer to themselves as insane and feel as though they are bleeding. The singer is seeking help but still retains their sense of masculinity, as seen in the line "Cause I'm a man". The final stanza provides a resolution to the situation and that the partner may have made the choice to leave or end the circumstance.


Line by Line Meaning

It's my time
It's time for me to go and pursue my own dreams and aspirations.


I'm leaving you
I'm leaving you behind as I embark on this journey.


Don't cry
Don't shed tears because deep down, you know it's for the best.


Accept the truth
Accepting the reality of the situation is important for growth and moving on.


You know – the thing
You understand the situation as well as I do.


It's white for me
My opportunities and chances are bright and clear.


It's white for you
Your opportunities and chances are also bright and clear.


But black for us
Our relationship together has hit a dead end and cannot continue.


You suffered
You went through hardship or pain.


It wasn't my pain
It wasn't caused by me, hence it is not my responsibility.


You spoke
You expressed your thoughts and feelings.


It wasn't my word
Those were not my expressed thoughts, so it is not my responsibility to fix or change them.


You slept
You rested or had dreams.


It wasn't my dream
Those were not my aspirations or goals, hence it is not my responsibility to achieve them.


You lived
You experienced life.


It wasn't my life
My life is separate from yours, and I should be free to pursue my own journey.


I'm insane and I'm alone
I am determined, unconventional and navigating through life alone.


Give me a hand
Help me in this journey.


Cause I'm a man
As a man, I am determined to build my own path in life.


I'm insane but I 'm alive
My unconventional path keeps me alive and excited for the future.


I'm bleeding again
I am experiencing pain or hardship again.


Cause I'm a man
As a man, life often brings pain or hardship, but I am strong and will persevere.


Don't scream
Don't make a big deal out of this situation.


Only this way is good.
Going separate ways is the best course of action for both of us.


Can you hear me
Can you understand where I'm coming from?


I'm screaming again
I'm expressing my feelings again.


Last time
This is the last time we'll have this conversation.


There's nothing to say
We've discussed everything, and further words won't change the outcome.


You cried
You experienced sadness or pain.


These weren't my tears
They were not caused by me, so it is not my responsibility to fix or change them.


You feared
You experienced fear or anxiety.


It wasn't my fear
Those were not my fears, so it is not my responsibility to address them.


You laughed
You experienced joy or amusement.


It wasn't my joy
Those were not my moments of joy, so it is not my responsibility to maintain them.


You died
You have passed away or are no longer with us.


It was your choice
It was your decision to make, and I cannot change or control it.




Contributed by Anna Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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