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.
Bittersweet
Sara Bareilles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seems like I'm best at leaving when leaving is not the best thing.
You couldn't help it if you needed more than I could give
That's just the way it goes.
I call you misplaced but never a waste of my time
Everybody's gonna make mistakes
You couldn't help it if you needed more than I could give
That's just the way it goes.
I knew you felt me leaving long before I ever did
That's just the way it goes now.
Loved me fearless when you needed to
You would not rest till you came through
So God bless and thank you.
There is no anger is just you and I and the truth
You can try to make her but love will not be forced to bloom
You couldn't help it if you needed more than I could give
That's just the way it goes.
The only love worth fighting for is one that you can win and
That's just the way it goes now.
You would not break but you could bend
And for love's sake you let love end
But I still swear that you were God sent
And you stood before me knowing that the wings i have you gave
And that's just the way it goes
And I barely have the breath to breathe much less to fly
And a silence entered the room for a one last
I'm gonna love you.
So God bless and thank you.
The lyrics of Sara Bareilles's song Bittersweet are a reflection on a bittersweet relationship. It is a song that deals with moving on from someone who was once a significant part of one's life. The artist begins by describing the relationship as bittersweet seasons. The relationship almost seemed like it was a warm winter mistaken for the beginning of spring. Here the artist is trying to suggest that the idea of spring is always associated with renewal, growth, and new beginnings, but in reality, the relationship was already doomed from the beginning. The next line "Seems like I'm best at leaving when leaving is not the best thing" portrays the emotions of the singer, who has always been good leaving relationships but finds it hard to leave when the relationship is comfortable.
The lyrics continue with the artist telling the person they were in a relationship with that they "couldn't help it if you needed more than I could give" and that "it's just the way it goes." Here the artist is recognizing the fact that even though the relationship had to end, it was not due to any fault of the other person. The next line, "I knew you felt me leaving long before I ever did," is an acknowledgement that the other person may have seen the end of the relationship coming, while the artist may have been blind to it. The lyrics drive the point that the relationship may have reached a point where it was not good for either person. Finally, the artist thanks the person for their time together and blesses them, highlighting the fact that the separation was not with malice or anger, and there is recognition of the positive and loving aspects of the time they spent together.
Line by Line Meaning
Bittersweet seasons. Mistake a warm winter for spring.
The mixed feelings of life transitions make it easy to confuse what you think is changing for what should be changing.
Seems like I'm best at leaving when leaving is not the best thing.
I tend to leave situations even when it would be better to stay.
You couldn't help it if you needed more than I could give
That's just the way it goes.
It's natural to need more than what someone else can provide, even if it's not their fault.
I call you misplaced but never a waste of my time
Everybody's gonna make mistakes
But you'll never be one of mine
I may have been wrong about our relationship, but it was never a mistake to have you in my life.
I knew you felt me leaving long before I ever did
That's just the way it goes now.
You saw the end of our relationship coming before I did, but that's just how things happened.
Loved me fearless when you needed to
You would not rest till you came through
So God bless and thank you.
You loved me with courage when you needed it most, and I am grateful for that.
There is no anger is just you and I and the truth
You can try to make her but love will not be forced to bloom
We may be upset, but at the core, there is only honesty between us. You can't force love to happen with someone else.
The only love worth fighting for is one that you can win and
That's just the way it goes now.
It's only worth fighting for love if you know you can win the fight, and that's how it is now.
You would not break but you could bend
And for love's sake you let love end
But I still swear that you were God sent
You were resilient even though our relationship ended. I still believe you were a gift from God.
And you stood before me knowing that the wings i have you gave
And that's just the way it goes
And I barely have the breath to breathe much less to fly
And a silence entered the room for a one last
I'm gonna love you.
So God bless and thank you.
You gave me the ability to fly before you, and even though I am now struggling, I still love you. Thank you and blessings upon you.
Contributed by Natalie K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@allisonjones8565
I wish she would sell these underground songs. I always have to go to YouTube to listen to them. They're all so good. She doesn't know how to not be amazing.
@__angelmonts
I agree. 🥹
@mlynnlm9068
I wish so too.
@lyrasteiner561
This song makes me cry every time.
@amielsaquisame6879
I wish this is available on Spotify 🥺
@AlexBurruss
The piano reminds me of City so much and I love it
@evilsilence88
This came on tonight and I thought I was listening to City for a second! The piano is so similar! I wonder if that’s why she abandoned this one and recorded City instead. They’re both beautiful.
@wolfandbrie5679
This is such an amazing song!
@ihavenoname727
I was in a relationship like this. I'm proud.
@kamg875
Hermosa canciĂłn.