I'm sorry
Red House Painters Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's cold here in the city
It always seems that way
I've been thinking about you almost everyday
Thinking about the good times
Thinking about the pain
Thinking about how bad it feels all alone again

I'm sorry for the way things are in China
I'm sorry things ain't what they used to be
But more than anything else, I'm sorry for myself
That you're not here with me

My friends all ask about you
I say you're doin' fine
I expect to hear from you almost any time
They all know I'm lying
I can't sleep at night
They all know I'm dying deep down inside

I'm sorry for all the lies I told you
I'm sorry for the things I didn't say
But more than anything else, I'm sorry for myself
I can't believe you went away

I'm sorry if I took some things for granted
I'm sorry for the chains I put on you




But more than anything else, I'm sorry for myself
For living without you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Red House Painters' "I'm Sorry" encapsulate feelings of longing, regret, and guilt. The song portrays a narrator who is struggling to cope with the absence of his loved ones. The opening lines, "It's cold here in the city, It always seems that way," immediately set the mood and tone of the song. The singer is feeling isolated and lonely without his partner. He goes on to think about the past and the good and bad memories that they had together. The lines, "Thinking about how bad it feels all alone again," indicate that the singer is experiencing a sense of emptiness and isolation.


The chorus of the song conveys the regret and longing that the singer feels. "I'm sorry for the way things are in China, I'm sorry things ain't what they used to be, But more than anything else, I'm sorry for myself, That you're not here with me." Here, the singer is apologizing for the current state of their relationship and how they have drifted apart. He accepts that he is partly responsible for the situation but ultimately is sorry for himself because he is not with the person he loves.


The second verse of the song deals with the guilt that the singer feels. He lies to his friends and is unable to sleep at night. He is suffering from the pain of loss and remorse for the mistakes he has made. The lines, "I'm sorry for all the lies I told you, I'm sorry for the things I didn't say," suggest that the singer feels like he has let his partner down. The final lines, "For living without you," emphasize the deep sense of sorrow that the singer feels as he tries to come to terms with the end of the relationship.


Overall, "I'm Sorry" is a poignant and emotional song that captures the universal experience of loss and regret. The lyrics are simple and straightforward but convey a powerful message of love and longing.


Line by Line Meaning

It's cold here in the city
The city doesn't feel warm enough and it's reflecting my loneliness


It always seems that way
This feeling of isolation and coldness is a constant and never goes away


I've been thinking about you almost everyday
You've been on my mind frequently and I can't stop thinking about you


Thinking about the good times
I'm thinking about how wonderful our past experiences were


Thinking about the pain
At the same time, I can't help but remember the heartache that came along with those good times


Thinking about how bad it feels all alone again
Without you, I'm suffering from the pain again and I can't handle the loneliness


I'm sorry for the way things are in China
I apologize for the problems and challenges happening in our relationship


I'm sorry things ain't what they used to be
I am regretful that our relationship is not like how it was in the past


But more than anything else, I'm sorry for myself
Above everything else, I am remorseful for the personal loss and pain that comes with you being gone


That you're not here with me
I am upset that you cannot be here physically with me anymore


My friends all ask about you
My loved ones are concerned about your wellbeing


I say you're doin' fine
However, I am lying to them and saying that you're doing alright to avoid their questions


I expect to hear from you almost any time
I am hopeful that you will reach out to me soon even though I know it's unlikely


They all know I'm lying
My friends are aware that I am not being truthful about your situation


I can't sleep at night
My guilt and sorrow keeps me awake during the night


They all know I'm dying deep down inside
Although I try to hide it, my friends can tell that I'm deeply hurting emotionally


I'm sorry for all the lies I told you
I apologize for deceiving you with false statements


I'm sorry for the things I didn't say
I feel bad for staying quiet about some topics that were important to our relationship


I can't believe you went away
I am still in disbelief that you chose to leave me


I'm sorry if I took some things for granted
I apologize for not appreciating certain aspects of our relationship that led to its decline


I'm sorry for the chains I put on you
I feel guilty for restraining you and not allowing you to be free in our relationship


For living without you
Above all, I regret not having you in my life anymore and struggling to move on




Lyrics © Budde Music Publishing GmbH, BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Denver

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Reuben Wilkinson

This is what a cover should sound like...original, yet just as worthy as the original.
Haunting and pure class!

miasma theory

incredible cover. wow.
mark kozelek really made this his own.

Everything Random

Who in the hell could give this a thumbs down!? They seriously weren't hugged enough as children, or getting laid enough as adults... This is so fucking beautiful my heart can't take it...

guanaco772

What a beautiful song.

Sorrow Stories

I love RHP/Mark Kozeleks music. This is an amazing cover.

Kaadarina

what a wonderful band. beautiful <3

Flowtrocity

captures my current emotions perfectly.

Hex

Always loved this song, reminds me of that lost love everybody seems to have.

Menachem Reads to You

It's better to have "the one that got away" than nothing. Which is what I have so far.

Menachem Reads to You

But I still love the song.

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