Breathless
Riverline Lyrics


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Guess it's too late to find our way back
Too many bruises, scars, too many attacks
Too many times we stabbed each other in the back
Too many things said that you wouldn't take back
Never willing to crack or show any mercy
Doing anything in your power just to hurt me
Always making me feel so worthless
Unworthy of your purpose
Numb on the surface and I can't breathe

You left me breathless
One word that sparks the sky
Floating inside my mind
There's one thing left behind
You left me breathless
I'm drowning in denial
Now I know that I just want you by my side

And I can hardly erase these thoughts
So much pain that never fades, it rages on
Any glimmering of hope never stays for long
Overshadowed by hurt, couldn't save this bond
And it's hard to go on living nervously
Knowing that the spark's gone, just a memory
Lost sight of what was, now it's hard to see




With this grip on my chest, I can
I can hardly breathe

Overall Meaning

Riverline's song "Breathless" is a powerful reflection on a relationship that has run its course. The opening lyrics paint a picture of two individuals who have inflicted too much harm on one another to ever find their way back to a healthy relationship. There have been too many attacks, too many hurtful words said that cannot be taken back, and too many bruises and scars. The heartache and pain of the relationship are palpable, with the lyrics suggesting that one person has always worked to hurt the other and make them feel worthless.


The chorus of the song centers around the idea that the relationship has left the singer "breathless." Yet, this feeling is not only associated with heartache and sadness but also with the idea that the other person still holds a significant place in the singer's mind. Although the relationship has ended, the memory of the other person remains, and the singer is left to drown in denial. The pain is still there, and the memory of the person is still powerful, which is why the singer wants them back by their side.


The final verse of the song has a sense of resignation, with the singer recognizing that the pain and hurt may never go away. There is a sense of being trapped in a relationship that has failed, one that has caused significant hurt and damaged both individuals in the process. The singer cannot breathe; the pain is too much to bear. As such, the song "Breathless" is a poignant reminder of the consequences of a failed relationship and the heartache that can linger long after it has ended.


Line by Line Meaning

Guess it's too late to find our way back
We've gone too far, hurt each other too much to ever repair the relationship.


Too many bruises, scars, too many attacks
The emotional pain inflicted on both sides has left behind deep wounds.


Too many times we stabbed each other in the back
Both parties have betrayed and hurt each other multiple times.


Too many things said that you wouldn't take back
Things that were said in anger and hurt can't be unsaid and have only added to the hurt.


Never willing to crack or show any mercy
Neither side was willing to give in or apologize; instead, they were always out to hurt each other.


Doing anything in your power just to hurt me
The motive was not to resolve the issue but to inflict pain on each other.


Always making me feel so worthless
One side made the other feel insignificant and neglected.


Unworthy of your purpose
The victim of the emotional abuse felt not good enough for their partner's expectations.


Numb on the surface and I can't breathe
The emotional pain is so intense that the victim has lost the ability to feel and finds it difficult to cope.


You left me breathless
The emotional pain has left the victim feeling breathless, hopeless and helpless.


One word that sparks the sky
The emotional chaos triggered by one action or word.


Floating inside my mind
The thought of the pain is haunting the victim and won't go away.


There's one thing left behind
The pain and memories of the relationship linger on.


I'm drowning in denial
The victim is having a hard time accepting the reality that the relationship is over.


Now I know that I just want you by my side
The victim desires the perpetrator to be by their side even though the relationship is toxic.


And I can hardly erase these thoughts
The thoughts and memories of the relationship are stuck and won't go away.


So much pain that never fades, it rages on
The emotional pain is too much and appears to be permanent; it's not something that will just go away.


Any glimmering of hope never stays for long
There were small moments of hope but they never lasted long and were overcome by the hurt.


Overshadowed by hurt, couldn't save this bond
The pain was stronger and more substantial than the bond they shared.


And it's hard to go on living nervously
It's hard to move on, and the feelings of nervousness and uncertainty, due to the past, make it challenging.


Knowing that the spark's gone, just a memory
The connection they had is gone and cannot be revived.


Lost sight of what was, now it's hard to see
The good times and reasons for being in the relationship have been forgotten, making it hard to remember why they were together.


With this grip on my chest, I can I can hardly breathe
The emotional pain and hurt are intensifying, making it challenging to cope and breathe.




Writer(s): Brandon Roman Lenz, Richard Medhurst, Zhanibek Nigmetov

Contributed by Leah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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