The Letter
The Princess and the Warrior Lyrics
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I burned them gently, one by one
And as I light the flame, I'd read it,
So I could see what you had done
The first you wrote me was the sweetest:
The last one broke my heart in two
Our love now lies among the embers,
In the ashes of your letters tied in blue
And as I burned your old love letters,
It brought back mem'ries from the past
It told about you and your new love,
A love I knew could never last
The first you wrote me was the sweetest:
The last one broke my heart in two
And as I light the flame, I'd read it,
For I can say: "I still love you"
The lyrics of "The Letter" by The Princess and the Warrior convey a poignant and bittersweet narrative of love lost and the act of letting go. The singer reflects on the painful process of burning their old love letters in a symbolic gesture of releasing the memories associated with the relationship. By describing the act of burning the letters gently and one by one, it signifies a deliberate and careful unraveling of the past.
As the singer recalls reading the love letters while setting them ablaze, it emphasizes the contrast between the initial sweetness of the messages and the eventual heartbreak that ensued. The use of fire as a metaphor for both destruction and illumination adds depth to the emotional journey of processing the pain caused by the relationship's end. The ashes left behind from the burnt letters serve as a physical representation of the remnants of a love that once was, now reduced to memories and remnants.
The mention of the letters being tied in blue adds a layer of symbolism, suggesting that the emotions contained within these letters are deeply intertwined with feelings of sadness and longing. The repetition of the lines, particularly "The first you wrote me was the sweetest; The last one broke my heart in two," underscores the cyclical nature of love and loss, highlighting the inevitability of heartbreak in relationships.
By confessing "I still love you" amidst the act of burning the letters, the singer exposes the lingering feelings and unresolved emotions that continue to haunt them. This declaration of love serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring impact that past relationships can have on one's present state of being. Overall, "The Letter" delves into the complexities of love, heartbreak, and the healing process that comes with letting go of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Today, I burned your old love letters;
I chose to let go of the memories of our past relationship by burning the physical reminders of it
I burned them gently, one by one
I handled the task of destroying these letters carefully and deliberately
And as I light the flame, I'd read it,
I reflected on the contents of each letter as I watched them turn to ash
So I could see what you had done
In order to understand the impact of your actions on our relationship
Our love now lies among the embers,
The remnants of our love are now reduced to ashes
In the ashes of your letters tied in blue
The memories encapsulated in these letters are now intertwined with the remains of our relationship
It brought back mem'ries from the past
The act of burning the letters triggered recollections of our shared history
A love I knew could never last
I had always been aware that the love we once had was not meant to endure
For I can say: "I still love you"
Despite the pain caused by your actions, my feelings for you have not completely faded
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, JOHNNY BOND PUBLICATIONS, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny Bond
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