Disappointment
The Cranberries Lyrics


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Disappointment, oh
You shouldn't have done, you couldn't have done
You wouldn't have done the things you did then
And we could've been happy
What a piteous thing, a hideous thing
Was tainted by the rest

But it won't get any harder
And I hope you'll find your way again
And it won't get any higher
And it all boils down to what you did there
There
There
There
There
There
There
There

In the night we fight, I fled you're right
It was exactly there
It was exactly there
I decided, decided, decided, decide
Ah-ah-ah-ah
We threw you out
In the night we fight
I fled you're right
It was exactly there
It was exactly there
I decided, decided, decided, decided

But it won't be any harder
And I hope you'll find your way again
And it won't get any higher
But it all boils down to what you did there
There
There
There
There
There
There
There

Disappointment
Disappointment
Disappointment

Disappointment
Disappointment
Disappointment

There
There
There
There

Disappointment
Disappointment
Disappointment

Disappointment




Disappointment
Disappointment

Overall Meaning

The Cranberries' song "Disappointment" deals with the aftermath of a failed relationship and the feelings of frustration and sadness that come with it. The singer laments that "you couldn't have done the things you did then" and wishes that they "could've been happy." The word "disappointment" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the feeling of let down and regret.


The chorus, which repeats the word "there" multiple times, seems to refer to a specific place or moment where things went wrong. The line "in the night we fight, I fled you're right" suggests that there was an argument that drove the couple apart. The singer acknowledges that they made a decision, but it's unclear what that decision was or how it factors into the relationship's demise.


Despite the pain of the situation, the singer offers some hope that things will get better. They reassure the other person that "it won't be any harder" and that they hope they will "find your way again." The song ends with the repetition of the word "disappointment" and the final line "there," which suggests that while the singer has come to terms with the end of the relationship, they are still haunted by what went wrong.


Line by Line Meaning

Disappointment you shouldn't have done
The singer is addressing someone who has caused disappointment by their actions, and stating that they should not have done what they did.


You couldn't have done
The singer is suggesting that the person they are addressing could not have helped doing what they did to cause disappointment.


You wouldn't have done
The singer is implying that the person they are addressing had a choice in doing what they did to cause disappointment.


The things you did then
The artist is referring to specific actions taken by the person they are addressing to cause disappointment.


And we could've been happy
The artist is expressing regret that their potential for happiness was ruined by the actions of the person they are addressing.


What a piteous thing, a hideous thing
The singer is describing the situation caused by the actions of the person they are addressing as pathetic and repulsive.


Was tainted by the rest
The singer is suggesting that the actions of the person they are addressing ruined something that may have had potential.


But it won't get any harder
The artist is expressing that the future won't be any more difficult because of the past actions that caused disappointment.


And I hope you'll find your way again
The artist is expressing a desire for the person they are addressing to get back on track after causing disappointment.


And it won't get any higher
The artist is saying that things won't get any worse than they already are in this situation.


And it all boils down to what you did There There There There There There There There
The singer is emphasizing that the main cause of the disappointment was the actions of the person they are addressing.


In the night we fight, I fled you're right
The artist is describing a past conflict they had with the person they are addressing, in which they ran away because the other person was correct.


It was exactly there
The singer is emphasizing the significance of the location of the past conflict they are describing.


It was exactly there
The singer is repeating the emphasis on the location of the past conflict.


I decided Decided Decided Decide
The singer is reflecting on the decision they made in the past regarding the conflict they had with the person they are addressing.


We threw you out
The artist is indicating that the person they are addressing was kicked out due to their actions causing disappointment.


But it won't be any harder
The artist is repeating that the future won't be any more difficult because of the actions that caused disappointment.


And I hope you'll find your way again
The singer is reiterating their desire for the person they are addressing to get back on track after causing disappointment.


And it won't get any higher
The singer is restating the belief that things won't get any worse in this situation.


But it all boils down to what you did There There There There There There There There
The artist is once again emphasizing that the main cause of the disappointment was the actions of the person they are addressing.


Disappointment Disappointment Disappointment Disappointment Disappointment Disappointment
The artist is repeating the title of the song to emphasize the overarching theme of disappointment caused by the actions of the person they are addressing.


There There There There
The artist is repeating 'there' for emphasis, although this could be interpreted in various ways depending on how one views the context.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Noel Anthony Hogan, Dolores Mary O'Riordan

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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