There Is No Good Way To Say I'm Leaving You
Slow Club Lyrics


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On a glass-bottomed boat
You escaped to ballot your vote
On a piece of home-made paper
You were a yes
And you were a no

In wet cement
You drew a line
Dancing across the coals
You ask me to pick a side

I?ve gotta ruin tonight
Cause there?s no good way to say I?m leaving you
There is no good way to say I?m leaving you

You used to write
You used to paint
You don?t say why you stopped
Or if you?ll start again

Your evenings lack their old uniform
It?s not hard to think of questions
When answers are all that you want

I?ve gotta ruin tonight




Cause there?s no good way to say I?m leaving you
There is no good way to say I?m leaving you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "There Is No Good Way To Say I'm Leaving You" paint a picture of a relationship falling apart. The first verse begins with the image of a glass-bottomed boat, which suggests transparency and vulnerability. The singer could escape on this boat, but instead chooses to participate in the democratic process on a homemade piece of paper. The words "you were a yes and you were a no" could symbolize the conflicting emotions the singer feels about leaving.


In the next stanza, the singer draws a line in wet cement and asks their partner to choose a side. This image could represent the finality of their decision to leave and the partner's inability to change their mind. The singer then acknowledges that they must ruin the night because there is no good way to say they are leaving. The repetition of this line reinforces the idea that the decision to end the relationship is difficult and painful.


The final stanza highlights the disconnect between the two partners. The singer notes that their partner has stopped writing and painting, two activities that previously defined their identity. The line "it's not hard to think of questions when answers are all that you want" suggests that the singer is seeking closure and an explanation for their partner's behavior. Throughout the song, there is a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty, but the final line confirms that the relationship is ending and there is no easy way to say goodbye.


Line by Line Meaning

On a glass-bottomed boat
You tried to make a clear decision with full transparency, yet it was not easy.


You escaped to ballot your vote
You took a way out to choose your preference without expressing your true feelings.


On a piece of home-made paper
You conveyed your decision on a personal artifact that represented your connection to the environment.


You were a yes
You agreed to something, but not wholeheartedly.


And you were a no
You declined something, but with hesitation.


In wet cement
You made a permanent mark that can never be erased or altered.


You drew a line
You created a boundary that separates what you want and what you don't want.


Dancing across the coals
You navigated a difficult and painful situation, hoping for a positive outcome.


You ask me to pick a side
You placed the burden of decision making on someone else, instead of taking responsibility yourself.


I've gotta ruin tonight
I know that what I'm going to say will hurt you and disrupt the peace, but it needs to be said.


Cause there's no good way to say I'm leaving you
Breaking up is always difficult, and there is never an easy way to deliver the news.


You used to write
You had a creative outlet that allowed you to express yourself freely.


You used to paint
You had a talent that allowed you to create art and appreciate beauty in the world.


You don't say why you stopped
You stopped doing what you used to love, but you didn't explain why to anyone.


Or if you'll start again
It's unclear if you will ever pick up your passions again and continue expressing yourself.


Your evenings lack their old uniform
Your routines and habits have changed noticeably, indicating that something is off.


It's not hard to think of questions
There are many things that are confusing and unclear about your recent behavior.


When answers are all that you want
You crave explanations and solutions, but they are difficult to come by.




Contributed by Riley R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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