Battlefield
Ryan Tedder Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don't try to explain your mind
I know what's happening here
One minute it's love
And suddenly it's like a battle-field

One word turns into a
Why is it the smallest things that tear us down
My world's nothing when you don't
I'm not here without a shield
Can't go back now

Both hands tied behind my back with nothing
Oh no, these times when we climb so fast to fall again
Why we gotta fall for it now
I never meant to start a war
You know I never wanna hurt you
Don't even know what we're fighting for

Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield? (x2)
Why does love always feel like..

Can't swallow our pride,
Neither of us wanna raise that flag, mhmm
If we can't surrender then we both gonna lose what we had, oh no

Both hands tied behind my back with nothing
Oh no, these times when we climb so fast to fall again
I don't wanna fall for it now
I never meant to start a war
You know I never wanna hurt you
Don't even know what we're fighting for

Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield? (x2)

I guess you better go and get your armor, (get your armor) get your armor
I guess you better go and get your armor, (get your armor) get your armor
I guess you better go and get your...

We could pretend that we are friends tonight (oh-oh-oh)
And in the morning we'll wake up and we'll be alright
Cause baby we don't have to fight
And I don't want this love to feel like..

A battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield,
Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield

I guess you better go and get your armor...

I never meant to start a war
You know I never wanna hurt you
Don't even know what we're fighting for (fighting, fighting for)

Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield? (x2)

I guess you better go and get your armor, (get your armor) get your armor
I guess you better go and get your armor, (get your armor) get your armor

Why does love always feel like...
Why does love always feel like...
A battlefield, a battlefield..

I never meant
To start a war
Don't even know
What we're fighting for

I never meant
To start a war




Don't even know
What we're fighting for

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ryan Tedder's "Battlefield" explore the complex and tumultuous nature of relationships. The song laments the difficulty of understanding the actions and emotions of one's partner in a relationship. It begins with the statement, "Don't try to explain your mind, I know what's happening here," suggesting that the singer of the song has experienced this conflict before. The chorus repeats, "Why does love always feel like a battlefield?" conveying the idea that love can feel exhausting and tumultuous in its complexity.


The song speaks to the universal experience many people face when engaging in a romantic relationship, where even the smallest disagreement can escalate into a larger confrontation. The final lines of the song suggest that the best way forward might be to set down the weapons and armor provided by pride and ego and simply be friends, without fighting.


Line by Line Meaning

Don't try to explain your mind
I can already sense what's on your mind


I know what's happening here
I understand the current situation


One minute it's love
Things are going well and feelings are positive


And suddenly it's like a battle-field
Things have taken a negative turn and it feels like a fight


One word turns into a
A conversation that started off well takes a negative turn with the use of one word


Why is it the smallest things that tear us down
It's surprising that the smallest issues can cause the biggest problems


My world's nothing when you don't
My world revolves around you and falls apart when you leave


I'm not here without a shield
I need protection to handle confrontation


Can't go back now
It's too late to return to the previous state


Both hands tied behind my back with nothing
I am powerless and unable to do anything about the situation


Oh no, these times when we climb so fast to fall again
We keep making positive progress only to return to a negative state


Why we gotta fall for it now
Why do we have to experience these negative emotions and confrontations now?


I never meant to start a war
I didn't intend for things to get this bad


You know I never wanna hurt you
It's out of character for me to cause harm


Don't even know what we're fighting for
I'm not even sure what the issue is


Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield?
Why do we always end up fighting in relationships?


Can't swallow our pride,
We're both too stubborn to back down


Neither of us wanna raise that flag, mhmm
Neither of us wants to admit we're wrong


If we can't surrender then we both gonna lose what we had, oh no
We need to compromise or we'll risk losing everything


I guess you better go and get your armor, (get your armor) get your armor
Prepare yourself for the emotional struggle ahead


We could pretend that we are friends tonight (oh-oh-oh)
Let's put our differences aside and enjoy each other's company


And in the morning we'll wake up and we'll be alright
Let's hope that the fighting stops and everything goes back to normal


Cause baby we don't have to fight
We can avoid confrontation


I never meant to start a war
I didn't intend for things to escalate


Fightin', fightin' for
We're fighting, but I'm not sure what for


Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield? (x2)
Why do we constantly fight in relationships?




Contributed by Oliver M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

chae chae

Don't try to explain your mind
I know what's happening here
One minute it's love
And suddenly it's like a battle-field

One word turns into a war
Is it the smallest things that tear us down
My world's nothing when you don't
I'm out here without a shield; can't go back now

Both hands tied behind my back with nothing
Oh no, these times when we climb so fast to fall again
Why we gotta fall for it now

I never meant to start a war
You know I never wanna hurt you
Don't even know what we're fighting for

Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield?
Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield?
Why does love always feel like.

Can't swallow our pride,
Neither of us wanna raise that flag, mhmmmm
If we can't surrender then
We both gonna lose what we had, oh no

Both hands tied behind my back with nothing
Oh no, these times when we climb so fast to fall again
I don't wanna fall for it now

I never meant to start a war
You know I never wanna hurt you
Don't even know what we're fighting for

Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield?
Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield?

I guess you better go and get your armor, (get your armor) get your armor
I guess you better go and get your armor, (get your armor) get your armor
I guess you better go and get your...

We could pretend that we are friends tonight (oh-oh-oh)
And in the morning we'll wake up and we'll be alright
Cause baby we don't have to fight
And I don't want this love to feel like.

A battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield,
Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield?

I guess you better go and get your armor...

I never meant to start a war
You know I never wanna hurt you
Don't even know what we're fighting for (what are we fighting for?)

Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield?
Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield?

I guess you better go and get your armor, (get your armor) get your armor
I guess you better go and get your armor, (get your armor) get your armor

Why does love always feel like...
Why does love always feel like...
A battlefield, a battlefield

I never meant to start a war
Don't even know what we're fighting for

I never meant to start a war
Don't even know what we're fighting for



Zia Ali

@W R i think that’s quite a silly statement - i can certainly hear the emotion in his voice and think its powerful. Just the same as if I listened to say Ice Cube, his african american accent is unique and sounds great in music.

This is the singer who went on to be the lead for OneRepublic mind you!
They’re arguably the best known band of the 2000s aside from perhaps coldplay.

What do you think of Linkin Park too? All incredibly talented caucasian singers!
(Coldplay, one republic, linkin park)

My point is people are unique and it translates as such in music. JMO



All comments from YouTube:

VerchielxKanda

He's got such a lovely voice!!
Thank you for posting this!!

Mark A

Thanks for posting! I love this song and Ryan Tedder's writing. I always like hearing him sing these songs that eventually made it to other strong singers. =)

Dyllun Garrett

Damn this version is so amazing 😍 Gets me every time! I didnt know he put out multiple versions of his own :P I've heard 2 other Ryan Tedder versions of Battlefield. I think this is the most produced and my favorite!

Samuele B.

Where did you find the other versions?

Summer Sunlight

I think jordin sparks and Ryan tedder should sing it together! !! that would be so powerful! !!

Irfan L Dj Toha

AGREE
They ARE SO GREAT,.

Debra Richards

Summer Sunlight definitely

Sam Farmer

Ryan should relean album full if songs he’s written for other singers like Halo for Beyonce

Waleef Muamar

Reminds me of the movie sniper legacy 😪 two ladies fight each other

chae chae

Don't try to explain your mind
I know what's happening here
One minute it's love
And suddenly it's like a battle-field

One word turns into a war
Is it the smallest things that tear us down
My world's nothing when you don't
I'm out here without a shield; can't go back now

Both hands tied behind my back with nothing
Oh no, these times when we climb so fast to fall again
Why we gotta fall for it now

I never meant to start a war
You know I never wanna hurt you
Don't even know what we're fighting for

Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield?
Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield?
Why does love always feel like.

Can't swallow our pride,
Neither of us wanna raise that flag, mhmmmm
If we can't surrender then
We both gonna lose what we had, oh no

Both hands tied behind my back with nothing
Oh no, these times when we climb so fast to fall again
I don't wanna fall for it now

I never meant to start a war
You know I never wanna hurt you
Don't even know what we're fighting for

Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield?
Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield?

I guess you better go and get your armor, (get your armor) get your armor
I guess you better go and get your armor, (get your armor) get your armor
I guess you better go and get your...

We could pretend that we are friends tonight (oh-oh-oh)
And in the morning we'll wake up and we'll be alright
Cause baby we don't have to fight
And I don't want this love to feel like.

A battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield,
Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield?

I guess you better go and get your armor...

I never meant to start a war
You know I never wanna hurt you
Don't even know what we're fighting for (what are we fighting for?)

Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield?
Why does love always feel like a battlefield, a battlefield, a battlefield?

I guess you better go and get your armor, (get your armor) get your armor
I guess you better go and get your armor, (get your armor) get your armor

Why does love always feel like...
Why does love always feel like...
A battlefield, a battlefield

I never meant to start a war
Don't even know what we're fighting for

I never meant to start a war
Don't even know what we're fighting for

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