The Day I Let You Down
The Americans Lyrics
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You set out west for the land of opportunity
Meanwhile mine was all emptiness inside
Everything in the rearview mirror had turned blue to me
You can put yourself together piece by piece
And you might go a couple of rounds
But chickens come home to roost, and foxes to feast
No one had to tell me it was time to leave
My good name was hitched to a pickup, dragged all over town
I dried my eyes on the side of my sleeve
The day I let you down
Your ma had just lost the Powerball
Your sister said a mouthful
Your brother was away at war
I said what I was sorry for
I whispered through the screen door
Till you didn't want to hear no more
You said, Go on being who you are
And see how it all works out for you
If there's penance to be paid, then that's just what I'll do
I'd get down on bended knee
But if that sentence prevents me from ever seeing you
They can go on and excommunicate me
Man alive, I'd never seen that expression on your face
It still comes to mind at the strangest times
It all went down in black and white, that's how I remember that night
The day I let you down
The TV was selling credit cards
You said, That's something you can't say sorry for
If you're holding out for me to call
I wish you wouldn't do that at all
And that's how a small town stays small
Folks make up their minds and cross their arms
I swore I'd forget each word that slipped
From between your tender lips
So why do I love you still?
Why do I love you still?
In The Americans's song "The Day I Let You Down," the lyrics tell a poignant story of regret, betrayal, and the aftermath of a failed relationship. The song opens with a vivid image of a person leaving home with hope and optimism, heading towards new opportunities, while the singer is grappling with emptiness and sorrow within. The contrast between the two characters' emotional states sets the stage for the narrative that follows.
As the song progresses, the singer reflects on the consequences of their actions, acknowledging that one cannot escape the repercussions of their decisions. The lyrics speak to the idea of facing one's mistakes and the inevitability of facing the consequences, as symbolized by the imagery of chickens coming home to roost and foxes feasting. The theme of accountability and facing one's own shortcomings runs through the verse, highlighting the complexity of human emotions and relationships.
The chorus of the song "The Day I Let You Down" captures a moment of realization and emotional turmoil for the singer. The imagery of a shattered reputation, tears, and apologies conveys the deep sense of regret and sorrow for letting someone down. The emotional weight of the moment is palpable as the singer recounts the pivotal event that changed everything between them and the person they care about.
In the final verses of the song, the singer grapples with the aftermath of the betrayal and the impact it has had on their relationship. The lyrics depict a sense of longing and regret, with the singer expressing a deep sense of love that persists despite the hurt and distance that now exist between them. The unresolved emotions and unanswered questions resonate in the repeated refrain of "Why do I love you still?" conveying the complexity of love, forgiveness, and the enduring bond between two individuals, even in the face of betrayal and heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
You left home with your heart open wide
You departed with a hopeful and vulnerable heart
You set out west for the land of opportunity
You headed towards a place of potential success and growth
Meanwhile mine was all emptiness inside
Meanwhile, I was struggling with inner feelings of emptiness
Everything in the rearview mirror had turned blue to me
Everything from the past seemed sad and distant to me
You can put yourself together piece by piece
You have the capability to rebuild yourself gradually
And you might go a couple of rounds
And you may face a few challenges along the way
But chickens come home to roost, and foxes to feast
Your past actions will catch up with you eventually
They eventually find you out
Your past mistakes will be exposed
No one had to tell me it was time to leave
I knew it was time to depart without anyone telling me
My good name was hitched to a pickup, dragged all over town
My reputation was tarnished and spread throughout the community
I dried my eyes on the side of my sleeve
I wiped away my tears on my sleeve
The day I let you down
The day I disappointed you
Your ma had just lost the Powerball
Your mother had recently lost the Powerball lottery
Your sister said a mouthful
Your sister expressed her thoughts and opinions strongly
Your brother was away at war
Your brother was deployed in a war zone
I said what I was sorry for
I apologized for my actions
I whispered through the screen door
I spoke softly through the door screen
Till you didn't want to hear no more
Until you no longer wanted to listen
You said, Go on being who you are
You encouraged me to stay true to myself
And see how it all works out for you
And witness the consequences of my actions
If there's penance to be paid, then that's just what I'll do
I am prepared to accept any punishment that may come my way
I'd get down on bended knee
I would humble myself and ask for forgiveness
But if that sentence prevents me from ever seeing you
But if that punishment means I can never see you again
They can go on and excommunicate me
They can banish or exclude me from their community
Man alive, I'd never seen that expression on your face
I had never seen that look on your face before
It still comes to mind at the strangest times
I still remember it vividly in unexpected moments
It all went down in black and white, that's how I remember that night
The events of that night are crystal clear in my memory
The day I let you down
The day I disappointed you
The TV was selling credit cards
The television was advertising credit cards
You said, That's something you can't say sorry for
You pointed out that some actions cannot be apologized for
If you're holding out for me to call
If you are waiting for me to reach out
I wish you wouldn't do that at all
I wish you would not wait for me
And that's how a small town stays small
This is how gossip and judgments keep a community small
Folks make up their minds and cross their arms
People form opinions and close themselves off
I swore I'd forget each word that slipped
I promised to try and forget every hurtful word
From between your tender lips
That came from your loving words
So why do I love you still?
Why do I still have feelings of love towards you?
Why do I love you still?
Why do I still have feelings of love towards you?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jake Faulkner, Patrick Ferris, Tim Carr, Zac Sokolow
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ahmed Raza
THAT'S why I love you still ...... absolutely brilliant performance.
H. Astley
360 views? ffs