Asshole
The Heartbreakers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Your brains went black
When she took back her love
And put it out into the sun

The birds did fly
When the heavens all went dry
And the cigarettes were smoking by themselves
She'll do anything
She'll do anything
She'll do anything
To make you feel like an asshole

Call her name
She looks the same as you
With question-marks stretched across her skin

She dangles carrots
Makes you feel embarrassed
To be the fool you know you are

She'll do anything
She'll do anything




She'll do anything
To make you feel like an asshole

Overall Meaning

The Heartbreakers' song "Asshole" is about a person who has been left by their lover and is feeling like an asshole because of their behavior during the relationship. The lyrics talk about the moment when the person's lover decides to take back their love and put it out into the sun, which caused the person's brain to go black. The birds, which symbolize freedom and happiness, flew away when the heavens went dry, representing the feeling of emptiness and sadness that followed the breakup. The cigarettes smoking by themselves represent the person's loneliness and how they don't feel like they have anything to hold on to.


The chorus lyrics "She'll do anything to make you feel like an asshole" is directed towards the lover who left the person, who is now doing anything to make the person feel bad about themselves. The lover's behavior is making the person feel embarrassed and like a fool for their actions during the relationship. The last verse talks about the person's regret for their behavior and how they see their ex-lover as a mirror image of themselves, but with question-marks stretched across their skin, representing uncertainty and doubt.


Overall, "Asshole" is a song that explores the emotional aftermath of a breakup, particularly the feelings of regret, loneliness, and self-doubt that can arise. It also highlights the power struggles that can happen between two people after a relationship ends.


Line by Line Meaning

Your brains went black
You were consumed by darkness and confusion


When she took back her love
When she ended the relationship


And put it out into the sun
And made it public


The birds did fly
Nature reacted


When the heavens all went dry
When everything became arid and desolate


And the cigarettes were smoking by themselves
Even inanimate objects seemed affected


She'll do anything
She will go to any lengths


She'll do anything
She will go to any lengths


She'll do anything
She will go to any lengths


To make you feel like an asshole
To make you feel guilty and worthless


Call her name
Attempt to reach out to her


She looks the same as you
She appears unchanged


With question-marks stretched across her skin
With an air of uncertainty surrounding her


She dangles carrots
She teases and manipulates


Makes you feel embarrassed
Makes you feel foolish and humiliated


To be the fool you know you are
To be the one at fault in the situation




Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@stevegatesrealtor1973

I never knew this cover existed! I miss Tom Petty.

@Anneriveira

I sure miss Tom. So happy we have his music to keep him alive in our hearts<3

@carlosibilla2044

What can you say he was the best

@eileenheard4444

One of my favorite Beck songs!!! Love this!

@jarikuukasjarvi8198

Tom, never forgotten...

@diggerthegroundhog8799

Never knew about this. Wow Tom did it justice.

@andrespandehra4902

I have to say that I have met many such women. The decisive factor is how you deal with it. A terrific text which of course does not only refer to one gender.

Thx Mr. Petty

@stefaniadiamondcut

The right one won't make you feel that way...that's how you know

@poppyallgood6918

I shudder to think of living in a world devoid of this YouTube comment. So thankful you KNEW it "really must" be said.

God bless you, brother. Keep fighting the good fight and stuff like that. Amen. Word.

@sundown2221

Narcissism sucks for both genders dealing with it

More Comments

More Versions