Don't Look Down
Secondhand Serenade Lyrics


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Rain stares looking right through me I′m right here
Why can't you just see I love you
Say anything but goodbye
We′ve climbed up this high

I don't wanna lose you darling
This can't be the end hanging by a thread right over the edge
Promise me you are gonna hold on don′t give up on me right now
And please just don′t look down

Cold hands but you won't let me hold them on
Our friends looks like you forgot them
I′ve never given up I can't stop
It seems like you want me to

I don′t wanna lose you darling
This can't be the end hanging by a thread right over the edge
Promise me you are gonna hold on don′t give up on me right now
And please just don't look down

Say anything but goodbye
We've climbed up this high (don′t look down)
Say anything but goodbye
We′ve climbed up this high

I don't wanna lose you darling
I don′t wanna lose you darling, no

I don't wanna lose you darling (say anything but goodbye)
This can′t be the end hanging by a thread right over the edge




Promise me you are gonna hold on don't give up on me right now
And please just don′t look down

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Secondhand Serenade’s “Don’t Look Down” reflect a desperate plea of a person who is trying to save a relationship that is on the brink of ending. The first stanza illustrates the singer’s realization that despite being present, their love interest seems not to acknowledge their feelings. They implore the love interest not to say goodbye and hold on to them, to keep the relationship alive. In essence, they're saying, "I'm right here, and I love you; do not let go of me.” The use of “rain” to describe the love interest's stares suggests that things aren't perfect or are emotionally challenging.


The second stanza widens the scope of the relationship’s problems. The singer's love interest seems to have alienated their friends, and the singer can’t seem to understand why they won't let them hold their hand. Nonetheless, the singer is persistent and refuses to give up, acknowledging that it seems like the love interest wants to push them away. This is further illustrated by the metaphorical choice of words like “hanging by a thread right over the edge” and “don’t look down”.


Overall, the lyrics portray a person who is willing to fight for what they want and need in their relationship despite the looming possibility of failure. It is a powerful message to anyone who has found themselves caught in the web of complex emotions that come with loving someone.


Line by Line Meaning

Rain stares looking right through me I’m right here
Despite being physically present, the singer feels ignored and unacknowledged by their love interest.


Why can’t you just see I love you
The singer is frustrated that their love for the other person seems to go unnoticed.


Say anything but goodbye
The singer pleads with their love interest to communicate with them, but explicitly states that they don't want to hear a goodbye.


We’ve climbed up this high
The two of them have gone through life's struggles and have come out stronger together, and the artist doesn't want this to end.


I don’t wanna lose you darling
The artist firmly states that they do not want to lose their love interest.


This can’t be the end hanging by a thread right over the edge
The relationship is currently on the brink of ending and the singer feels like one wrong move could end it all.


Promise me you are gonna hold on don’t give up on me right now
The singer begs their lover to hold on and not give up on the relationship, as it's currently in a precarious state.


And please just don’t look down
Don't focus on the negative aspects of the relationship, just focus on staying strong and moving forward together.


Cold hands but you won’t let me hold them on
Despite feeling emotionally distant, the love interest is still physically close to the artist and yet refusing to be held.


Our friends looks like you forgot them
The artist feels like their love interest is ignoring everything and everyone around them in favor of being distant and unresponsive.


I’ve never given up I can't stop
The singer is determined to keep fighting for the relationship and refuses to give up on their love interest.


It seems like you want me to
Despite the artist's determination, it feels like their love interest is trying to push them away and make them give up.


Say anything but goodbye
Repeated line emphasizing how important it is for the singer to keep communication open, even if it's not necessarily positive.


We’ve climbed up this high (don’t look down)
The journey they've been on has brought them to where they are now, and they need to focus on continuing to move forward rather than looking at how far they could potentially fall.


I don’t wanna lose you darling
Reiteration of the singer's love and desire to maintain the relationship.


This can’t be the end hanging by a thread right over the edge
Reminder of how fragile the relationship is currently and the need to be careful to avoid breaking it entirely.


Promise me you are gonna hold on don’t give up on me right now
Reiterating the need for their lover to be committed to the relationship and work through the issues together.


And please just don’t look down
As before, the singer is emphasizing the importance of focusing on staying positive and working toward a solution rather than worrying about the potential consequences of failure.




Writer(s): John Vesely

Contributed by Lila V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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