I Don’t Want to Get Over You
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics


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I don't want to get over you. I guess I could take
A sleeping pill and sleep at will and not have to
Go through what I go through. I guess I should take
Prozac, right, and just smile all night at somebody new,
Somebody not too bright but sweet and kind who would
Try to get you off my mind. I could leave this agony behind
Which is just what I'd do if I wanted to, but I don't
Want to get over you cause I don't want to get over love.
I could listen to my therapist, pretend you don't exist
And not have to dream of what I dream of; I could listen
To all my friends and go out again and pretend it's enough,
Or I could make a career of being blue--I could dress
In black and read Camus, smoke clove cigarettes and drink




Vermouth like I was 17 that would be a scream but I
Don't want to get over you.

Overall Meaning

The Magnetic Fields's song "I Don't Want to Get Over You" is a melancholic and heart-wrenching reflection on the aftermath of a break-up. The singer is struggling to come to terms with the end of a relationship and is considering various ways to alleviate the pain. However, despite the many options available, the singer has no desire to get over the person they once loved.


The first verse contemplates the use of sleeping pills or Prozac to dull the pain of missing their ex-lover. They acknowledge that there are other people in the world that they could move onto, but they cannot bring themselves to do so. The second verse explores the possibility of seeking professional help or distracting themselves with socializing and new experiences. Ultimately, the singer concludes that they could embrace their sadness and pain, but they do not want to let go of their love for their ex, as it is still far too precious to them.


The song is a poignant and emotional representation of the struggles of letting go of a relationship. It speaks to the universal feeling of holding on to something that we know is gone and the fear of losing the beauty and joy that was once a part of our lives. This song perfectly captures the intensity of emotions that can come with heartbreak and how challenging it can be to move on.


Line by Line Meaning

I don't want to get over you.
I don't want to move on from our relationship.


I guess I could take a sleeping pill and sleep at will and not have to go through what I go through.
I could try to numb my pain with sleeping pills, but that won't solve anything.


I guess I should take Prozac, right, and just smile all night at somebody new, somebody not too bright but sweet and kind who would try to get you off my mind.
I could try antidepressants and pretend to be happy with someone new who isn't as smart as you, but that wouldn't heal my heartbreak.


I could leave this agony behind which is just what I'd do if I wanted to, but I don't want to get over you cause I don't want to get over love.
I could try to move on and leave this pain behind, but I can't let go of my love for you.


I could listen to my therapist, pretend you don't exist and not have to dream of what I dream of; I could listen to all my friends and go out again and pretend it's enough,
I could try to ignore my emotions and pretend to be happy without you, but that won't make me stop dreaming about you.


Or I could make a career of being blue--I could dress in black and read Camus, smoke clove cigarettes and drink Vermouth like I was 17 that would be a scream but I don't want to get over you.
I could try to become the embodiment of sadness, but that won't fill the void you left in my life.




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@bobirae4590

I don't want to get over you
I guess I could take a sleeping pill
And sleep at will
And not have to go through
What I go through
I guess I should take Prozac, right?
And just smile all night
At somebody new
Somebody not too bright
But sweet and kind
Who would try to get you off my mind
I could leave this agony behind
Which is just what I'd do
If I wanted to
But I don't want to get over you

'Cause I don't want to get over love
I could listen to my therapist
Pretend you don't exist 
And not have to dream of
What I dream of
I could listen to all my friends
And go out again
And pretend it's enough
Or I could make a career of being blue
I could dress in black and read Camus
Smoke clove cigarettes and drink vermouth
Like I was seventeen
That would be a scream
But I don't want to get over you



All comments from YouTube:

@birddangler3697

“Cause I don’t wanna get over love” really is the simplest, yet hardest-hitting line

@AT-kv4id

I could leave this agony behind

@Timurlane100

What makes this song so brilliant is that it is both comic and tragic at the same time. Brilliant encapsulation of the human condition.

@Gilliganfrog

Expressing tragic heartbreaks & melancholy via sad and bleak but cleverly comical lyrics is the Magnetic Fields method, 100%.

@lukedguy1253

listening to 69 love songs in full after a breakup is the correct way to listen to it, change my mind

@paulmitchell9975

Full vinyl version went on sale recently. Limited release. Only the price of a small family home.

@imperatorfuriosa7061

Reading Camus and remembering this fondly...

@maryam4259

We r the same person

@TRAMADOL-EN-AYUNAS

Vo so yo?

@a.p.2356

This song is a perfect encapsulation of the period after a breakup where you aren't completely debilitated by the loss anymore, but you're not yet ready to stop being a sad sack. You're gaining just enough perspective to know that none of your friends actually want to listen to your deep thoughts on the nature of love and the human condition, but not enough to stop doing it. Part of you is healing, and that part is rolling it's eyes as the rest of you tears up in the grocery store because you just walked past the brand of toilet paper your ex always bought. You know you should start moving on, but feeling like shit is the only piece of your relationship you have left and you're not ready to give it up yet.

It's the part of the breakup where you know you're being ridiculous, but that doesn't make it hurt any less.

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