Produced by Saint Etienne
Recorded Tuesday… Read Full Bio ↴Written by Neil Young
Produced by Saint Etienne
Recorded Tuesday, January 30th 1990
Released May 1990 on Only Love Can Break Your Heart. Features on the debut album Foxbase Alpha.
Notes Vocals by Moira Lambert of cult indie band Faith Over Reason. She now records as a solo artist under the name, Moira.
"The original recording was done in January 1990 at my Mum's place in Pollards Hill. They'd said they were going to start a group and make records in the 90's - such a stereotypically Saint Etienne thing to say. And so in January 1990 there they were. As far as I was concerned they were making a demo! Two songs in an afternoon. We didn't really have much time to think about it. I remember patiently trying to explain how it would never work. It's a 3/4 song, they wanted to do it in 4/4 - I didn't see it." (engineer Ian Catt, 2009).
"The idea was just to do covers and use rotating vocalists. We recorded 'Only Love Can Break Your Heart' and 'Kiss and Make Up' (later re-recorded with Donna Savage and released on the 2CD version of Foxbase Beta) on the same day. The idea was just to see if we could do something that worked." (Pete Wiggs, 2009).
"At the end we did 'Only Love' really quickly. Literally punching things in and out. Mixing it live." (Bob Stanley, 2009).
Only Love Can Break Your Heart
Saint Etienne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How did it feel to be alone?
I was always thinking
Games that I was playing
Trying to make the best of my time
But only love can break your heart
Try to be sure right from the start
But if your world should fall apart
I have a friend I've never seen
He hides his head inside a dream
Someone should call him and see if he can come out
Try to lose the gang that he's found
But only love can break your heart
Try to be sure right from the start
Yes, only love can break your heart
But if your world should fall apart
I was always thinking
I was always thinking
I was always thinking
I was always thinking
I was always thinking
I was always thinking
I was always thinking
I was always thinking, games that I was playing
I was always thinking, games that I was playing
I was always thinking, I was always thinking
I was always thinking, I was always thinking
I - I - I - I - I was always thinking, games that I was playing
I was always thinking, games that I was playing
I was always thinking, games that I was playing
I was always thinking, games that I was playing
The lyrics to Saint Etienne's "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" explore the idea that, while life can be full of distractions and diversions, ultimately, it is only love that has the power to truly move and affect us. The song reflects on the joy and playfulness of youth, while also acknowledging the darker, more complicated aspects of life. The verse "When you were young and on your own, how did it feel to be alone?" evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing for the carefree days of childhood, while the chorus reminds us that, no matter how much we try to protect ourselves, only love has the power to truly break our hearts.
The second verse further explores this theme, with the singer reflecting on a friend who has become lost in his own dream world. The line "someone should call him and see if he can come out" suggests that the friend is trapped in his own head, unable to connect with the real world. The verse reminds us of the importance of connection and human contact, suggesting that even those who seem lost or unresponsive can still be reached with the power of love.
Overall, the song is a bittersweet reflection on the beauty and pain of life, and the deep emotional impact that love can have on us all.
Line by Line Meaning
When you were young and on your own
Back when you were starting life on your own
How did it feel to be alone?
Did the thought of being alone ever cross your mind?
I was always thinking
Throughout all my time, I was constantly contemplating
Games that I was playing
The actions I took and decisions I made were all games in my mind
Trying to make the best of my time
I spent my time attempting to create the most optimal situation for myself
But only love can break your heart
Your heart is only vulnerable to being shattered by love
Try to be sure right from the start
From the very beginning, make certain you don't get hurt
Yes, only love can break your heart
It's true that love is the only thing able to break one's heart
But if your world should fall apart
In the event that everything you have falls apart
I have a friend I've never seen
I know someone who I have yet to meet in person
He hides his head inside a dream
This person lives in a world of fantasy in order to avoid reality
Someone should call him and see if he can come out
It would be good to reach out to this person and encourage them to face reality
Try to lose the gang that he's found
It's imperative that this person separate themselves from the negative influences they've surrounded themselves with
I was always thinking
My thoughts never ceased
I was always thinking, games that I was playing
Continually consumed by the imaginary games and scenarios in my head
I - I - I - I - I was always thinking, games that I was playing
My mind was occupied with elaborate daydreams and ideas
I was always thinking, games that I was playing
My mind was never at rest, constantly inventing new scenarios and situations
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Neil Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-el1mj3nz1g
When you were young
And on your own
How did it feel to be alone?
I was always thinking of games
That I was playing
Trying to make the best of my time
But only love can break your heart
Try to be sure right from the start
Yes, only love can break your heart
What if your world should fall apart?
I have a friend I've never seen
He hides his head inside a dream
Someone should call him and see
If he can come out
Try to lose the down that he's found
But only love can break your heart
Try to be sure right from the start
Yes, only love can break your heart
What if your world should fall apart?
I have a friend I've never seen
He hides his head inside a dream
Yes, only love can break your heart
Yes, only love can break your heart
Yes, only love can break your heart
Yes, only love can break your heart
Yes, only love can break your heart
@MaxColudro
When you were young and on your own
How did it feel to be alone?
I was always thinking
Games that I was playing
Trying to make the best of my timeBut only love can break your heart
Try to be sure right from the start
Yes, only love can break your heart
But if your world should fall apartI have a friend I've never seen
He hides his head inside a dream
Someone should call him
And see if he can come out
Try to lose the gang that he's foundBut only love can break your heart
Try to be sure right from the start
Yes, only love can break your heart
But if your world should fall apartI was always thinking
I was always thinking
I was always thinking
I was always thinking
I was always thinking
I was always thinking
I was always thinkingI was always thinking
Games that I was playing
I was always thinking
Games that I was playing
I was always thinkingI was always thinking
I was always thinking
I was always thinking
I, I, I, II was always thinking
Games that I was playing
I was always thinking
Games that I was playing
I was always thinking
Games that I was playing
I was always thinking
Games that I was playing
@Maxine2036
I summarized some comments about the versions of this video:
Moira Lambert didn't want to appear in the video; the girl who appear is Lucy Gillie from Golden Band.
Moira Lambert had her own band at the time, called "Faith Over Reason". They put out two EPs in 1990, "Billy Blue" and "Faith Over Reason" (the latter only on vinyl), then a compilation in 1991, "Eyes Wide Shut". Then in 1994 they put out an EP "Blind" and an album "Easy". This is the video for the track "Blind", which shows "Faith Over Reason" as they were in 1994.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guU1A2MBfFY
There’s another version of the video but with Sarah Cracknell as the vocalist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkthCVsz90s
@TheUtuber999
1990 and 1991 were great years for electronic music. Saint Etienne, 808 State, EMF, Blur, Happy Mondays, Wire, The Fall, The Farm, Lush, The Shamen, Bigod 20, Candyflip, Jesus Jones, Cocteau Twins, Danielle Dax, The Orb, Front 242 and of course Depeche Mode to name just a few great bands with releases around that time.
@juanmeras6002
So so true
@chrisarchard2009
Thank you for that list of artists bro
@tristanrobert4972
You're abolutely right
@abelmontalvo4052
Klf
@andrewknapton8121
Introduced to this song in 1992 on holiday in Kavos!! Corfu by Maria and friends from Gloucester..... also Massive Attack Unfinished Sympathy
@darkestserenity6775
I know this is a Neil Young song but
this group totally made it their own
still love this
@daisyholmes1773
Yep, they produced a totally new work based on the original. And much better.
@abelmontalvo4052
Yes they made it their own but it will always belong to Neil Young
@rachelcrompton1867
@Daisy Holmes Andrew Weatherall did.