Breathing
Richard Readey Lyrics

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Make up your mind
Cause I'm caught on your heart strings
And I've been here twice
And it just leads to one thing

Feelings
Hurting
Rising

Falling

Make up your mind
Can you please give me something?

Give me a reason
Give me a heartbeat
There's an I'm ember I'm keeping
And this just isn't like me
Tell me again
Cause I need to hear it
And I've been falling since the very first moment
Every breath I take yeah you're growing and I'm breathing

Breathing
Breathing

You take your time
No we don't rush this
It's hard to fight
When it's all that I've wanted

Your skin
Your eyes
My hands
Our time
Give me a chance I can show you it's something

Give me a reason
Give me a heartbeat,
There's an ember I'm keeping
And this just isn't like me
Tell me again
Cause I need to hear it
I've been falling since the very first moment
And every breath I take yeah you're growing
And I'm breathing

Breathing
Breathing
Breathing

And I've dived before it didn't end well
And I ration my breaths now
I know you can tell

I know you can tell
Still I'm breathing

Overall Meaning

In these lyrics, Richard Readey is expressing his desire for someone to make up their mind about their feelings for him. He feels emotionally attached to this person, as they have a hold on his heart. However, this is not the first time he has found himself in this situation, and he knows it will likely lead to heartache.

The first paragraph conveys the emotional turmoil Richard is experiencing. He mentions feelings and hurting, suggesting that the uncertainty and indecision on the other person's part is causing him emotional pain. The words "rising" and "falling" describe his emotions fluctuating as he navigates this situation.

Richard pleads for clarity from the other person, asking them to give him something. He wants a reason to continue pursuing the relationship and their heartbeat as a sign of reciprocation. He mentions an "ember" that he is keeping, suggesting that he is holding onto the hope that this person will eventually feel the same way, even though it goes against his usual behavior. He wants them to reaffirm their feelings for him, as he has been falling for them since the beginning, and their presence in his life has become an integral part of his happiness and personal growth.

In the third paragraph, Richard acknowledges the other person's cautious approach to the relationship. He understands that they need time and space, so he does not want to rush their decision-making process. He recognizes that it is difficult to fight against his own desires when being with this person is everything he has ever wanted. The mention of their skin, eyes, and the time they spend together highlights the physical and intimate connection he shares with them. He asks for a chance to prove to them that what they have between them is worth pursuing.

As the song progresses, Richard reflects on past experiences where he has dived into relationships without considering the consequences, leading to negative outcomes. He now takes his time and carefully considers his actions, rationing his breaths metaphorically to demonstrate his cautious approach. He acknowledges that the other person can sense his hesitation but emphasizes that despite his guardedness, he is still invested and committed, still breathing and hoping for a positive outcome.

Line by Line Meaning

Make up your mind
Decide what you want because I cannot continue to be caught in your emotional grip

Cause I'm caught on your heart strings
Because your actions and emotions have a strong influence over me

And I've been here twice
I have experienced this situation before

And it just leads to one thing
And it always ends up in the same outcome

Feelings
Emotions that I can't control

Hurting
Causing pain and distress

Rising
Becoming more intense

Falling
Diminishing and losing control

Make up your mind
Make a decision once and for all

Can you please give me something?
Can you at least give me a clear indication of your feelings?

Give me a reason
Provide me with a justification

Give me a heartbeat
Show me your passion and desire

There's an ember I'm keeping
I have a hidden spark of hope

And this just isn't like me
My behavior and reactions are not typical of how I usually am

Tell me again
Repeat your words to confirm and reassure me

Cause I need to hear it
Because I require reassurance and validation

And I've been falling since the very first moment
I have been gradually losing control and becoming emotionally invested since our initial encounter

Every breath I take yeah you're growing and I'm breathing
With every moment that passes, my feelings for you intensify and I continue to exist because of them

You take your time
You proceed at your own pace

No we don't rush this
We do not force our relationship to progress quickly

It's hard to fight
It is challenging to resist

When it's all that I've wanted
When being with you is my deepest desire

Your skin
The touch and feel of your body

Your eyes
The gaze and expression in your eyes

My hands
My own physical touch and connection

Our time
The moments we spend together

Give me a chance I can show you it's something
Allow me an opportunity to demonstrate that our relationship means something

And I've dived before it didn't end well
I have taken risks in the past, but they resulted in negative outcomes

And I ration my breaths now
I am cautious and calculated with my emotions now

I know you can tell
I am aware that you can perceive my guardedness