Only Love Can Break Your Heart
Saint Etienne Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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 time

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 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

Overall Meaning

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
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@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



All comments from YouTube:

@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

10 More Replies...

@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.

More Comments

More Versions