After graduating from UCLA in 2002, Bareilles performed at local bars and clubs. She issued two demos of mostly live tracks in 2003: The First One in April and The Summer Sessions in October.
In January 2004, Bareilles released her first studio album, Careful Confessions. She signed a contract with Epic Records' A&R executive Pete Giberga on April 15, 2005. The remainder of the year and early 2006 was spent writing and reworking songs for her upcoming album.
Her debut major-label album Little Voice came out on July 17, 2007.
1000 Times
Sara Bareilles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looking at you
Counting the steps
Between us
A hundred and five
Little blades in a line
From your skin to mine
Eyes on the ground
But I can't look up now
Don't wanna give it away
My secret
In another life, my teeth and tongue
Would speak aloud what until now I've only sung
'Cause I would die to make you mine
Bleed me dry each and every time
I don't mind, no, I don't mind it
I would come back a thousand times
You can make me wait forever
Push me away and tell me never
I don't mind, no, I don't mind it
I would come back a thousand times
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Kiss me goodnight
Like a good friend might
I'll do the same
Won't mean it
'Cause love is a cage
These words on a page
Carry the pain
They don't free it
In another life I wouldn't need to
Console myself as I resign to release you
'Cause I would die to make you mine
Bleed me dry each and every time
I don't mind, no, I don't mind it
I would come back a thousand times
You can make me wait forever
Push me away and tell me never
I don't mind, no, I don't mind it
I would come back a thousand times
Again, again I let it go, let it go
Cover my mouth, don't let a single word slip
I wouldn't wanna tell you, no, tell you, no
Nothing could be worse than the risk of
Losing what I don't have now
I'm weaker by the minute, though
Is it so bad if I wanna cry out?
And I would die to make you mine
Bleed me dry almost every time
But I don't mind, no, I don't mind it
I would come back a thousand times
Make me wait forever
Push me away, tell me never
But I don't mind, no, I don't mind it
I would come back a thousand times
I would come back a thousand times
Hey, yeah
Hey, yeah
I would come back a thousand times
Sara Bareilles's song 1000 Times is about unrequited love, being stuck in a one-sided relationship, and the pain that comes with it. The singer, who is at the back of the room, is looking at someone she loves, possibly someone she can't have, and counts the steps between them. In the line "A hundred and five little blades in a line from your skin to mine, and I feel it," Bareilles uses a powerful metaphor to explain the intense pain she feels in her heart.
The song's second verse talks about how love is a cage, and that the words on a page merely "carry the pain. They don't free it." This line could mean that no matter how many times the singer sings about her love, it doesn't get resolved. In another life, she wouldn't need to resort to singing her feelings, but would instead speak aloud what she's been only singing until now. The singer is consumed by her feelings of unrequited love and is willing to come back a thousand times to see her love.
Throughout the song, the singer grapples with the pain of unrequited love and their need to hold back their feelings. In the end, they seem to accept the situation as it is, saying that they don't mind the pushback and would come back a thousand times. The song’s message can be interpreted as a sad but powerful commentary on the pain that comes with unrequited love and the need to let go.
Line by Line Meaning
Back of the room
Sara is standing at the back of the room.
Looking at you
Sara is looking at someone who is in front of her.
Counting the steps
Sara is counting the steps between her and the person she's looking at.
Between us
The steps that Sara is counting are between her and the person she's looking at.
A hundred and five
Sara is imagining that there are 105 little blades between her and the person she's looking at.
Little blades in a line
Sara is imagining that there are little blades in a straight line between her and the person she's looking at.
From your skin to mine
Sara is imagining that the little blades are connecting the skin of the person she's looking at to her own skin.
And I feel it
Sara is feeling the imaginary connection between her and the person she's looking at.
Eyes on the ground
Sara is looking down.
But I can't look up now
Sara wants to avoid making eye contact with the person she's looking at.
Don't wanna give it away
Sara doesn't want to reveal her feelings to the person she's looking at.
My secret
Sara's feelings for the person she's looking at are a secret.
In another life, my teeth and tongue
Sara imagines a different version of herself in which she can speak her feelings aloud.
Would speak aloud what until now I've only sung
Singing about her feelings is the only way Sara can express them currently, but in this imaginary life, she can express them verbally.
'Cause I would die to make you mine
Sara is so in love with this person, she would do anything to be with them.
Bleed me dry each and every time
Even though it hurts her, Sara is willing to keep giving all she has to this person.
I don't mind, no I don't mind it
Sara is accepting of the pain the person causes her.
You can make me wait forever
Sara is willing to wait for this person forever, even if they never choose her.
Push me away and tell me never
This person might reject her, but Sara is still willing to be there for them.
Kiss me goodnight
Sara and the person she's singing about are close enough to be sharing goodnight kisses.
Like a good friend might
Even though Sara is filled with love for this person, they currently only share a friendly relationship.
I'll do the same
Sara will give them a goodnight kiss, but it won't hold any real romantic meaning.
But won't mean it
Even though Sara is going through the motions of a goodnight kiss, her heart is not in it.
'Cause love is a cage
Sara sees love as something that can trap her and prevent her from living her life.
These words on a page
Sara has put all of her feelings into the lyrics of this song.
Carry the pain
Sara's song is filled with the pain of her unrequited love.
They don't free it
Even though writing this song has helped Sara cope with her feelings, it hasn't made them go away.
In another life I wouldn't need to
Sara's current life is filled with the pain of unrequited love, but she imagines a different life where she wouldn't have to feel that pain.
Console myself as I resign to release you
Sara has accepted that this person might never love her back, and she must let them go.
Again, again I let it go, let it go
Even though Sara tries to let go of her feelings, they keep coming back.
Cover my mouth, don't let a single word slip
Sara is trying to keep her feelings hidden and not reveal them to the person she loves.
I wouldn't wanna tell you, no tell you, no
Even though Sara wants to express her love to this person, she's afraid of being rejected.
Nothing could be worse than the risk of
The fear of being rejected is so immense that it makes any other outcome seem better by comparison.
Losing what I don't have now
Sara fears losing the little bit of closeness she currently shares with this person if she were to express her love.
And we could by the minute, though, is it so bad
Sara daydreams about a possible future with this person, but also questions if it's worth the pain that comes with loving them.
If I wanna cry out?
Sara wonders if it would be better to reveal her feelings and risk the pain of being rejected or to keep them hidden and continue to suffer in silence.
Make me wait forever
Sara is willing to wait all eternity for this person, even if they never reciprocate her love.
Push me away and tell me never
Even if this person rejects her, Sara is still willing to be there for them.
But I don't mind, no, I don't mind it
Sara is accepting of the pain and heartache that comes with loving this person.
I would come back a thousand times
Sara's love for this person is so strong that she's willing to come back to them and continue loving them, no matter the pain it causes.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Sara Bareilles
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind