Heartaches By The Number
Willie Nelson / Merle Haggard / Ray Price Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never knew that I could hurt this way
And heartache number two was when you came back again
You came back and never meant to stay
Now I've got heartaches by the number
Troubles by the score
Everyday you love me lessEach day I love you more
Yes, I've got heartaches by the number
A love that I can't win
But the day that I stop counting
That's the day my world will end
Heartache number three Was when you called me
And said that you was coming back to stay
With hopeful heart I waited for your knock on the door
I waited but you must have lost your way
Now I've got heartaches by the number
Troubles by the score
Everyday you love me less
Each day I love you more
Yes, I've got heartaches by the number
A love that I can't win
But the day that I stop counting
That's the day my world will end
The lyrics of Heartaches By The Number express a feeling of repeated heartaches caused by a tumultuous relationship. The song talks about the various heartbreaks that the singer has faced during his relationship with the woman he loves. The first heartache was when she left him, causing him immense pain. The second heartache was when she returned but only to leave again. The third heartache was when she promised to come back and stay but did not arrive.
The song highlights the singer's pain and how his love grows stronger each day irrespective of the woman's declining love. The chorus of the song talks about the accumulation of the singer's heartaches and troubles. He has heartaches by the number and troubles by the score, but his love for the woman remains constant. The love that he cannot win, but he keeps counting his heartaches to know how much he loves her. The song concludes by saying that the day he stops counting his heartaches will be the day his world will end.
Overall, Heartaches By The Number is a melancholic but beautiful song that highlights the pain that comes with loving someone. It talks about the complexities of a relationship and how love can sometimes be painful.
Line by Line Meaning
Heartache number one was when you left me
The first heartbreak that I experienced is when you left me
I never knew that I could hurt this way
The pain that I felt was beyond what I thought I could endure
And heartache number two was when you came back again
The second heartbreak was when you returned, only to leave again
You came back and never meant to stay
Your return was temporary and you never intended to stay with me
Now I've got heartaches by the number
My heart has been broken multiple times
Troubles by the score
With each heartbreak came its own set of problems and hardships
Everyday you love me less
Your love for me decreases with each passing day
Each day I love you more
Despite your decreasing love for me, my love for you continues to grow
Yes, I've got heartaches by the number
I have experienced too much heartache to count
A love that I can't win
My love for you is one-sided and unrequited
But the day that I stop counting
The day that I stop keeping track of my heartaches
That's the day my world will end
Will be the day that I can no longer go on living with the pain of my unreciprocated love
Heartache number three Was when you called me
The third heartbreak was when you called me to say that you were coming back
And said that you were coming back to stay
You gave me hope that you were coming back for good
With hopeful heart I waited for your knock on the door
I waited eagerly for you to arrive, with the hope of finally having the love I desired
I waited but you must have lost your way
However, you never showed up, and I realized that you must have decided not to come back
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, LEGACY OF HARLAN PERRY HOWARD, LLC
Written by: Harlan Howard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stormcrowlegendary3512
I first heard this song in Fall Out New Vegas. One thing I love about that game is it brings back great 50's songs that are all but forgotten in my generation that people like Willie here was lucky enough to experience.
@vitopaolillo4069
grazie moltissime 1th (tks a lot) Great Great Willie Nelson
up up up rendition great musicians all..but that violin so Western Texas Arizona Kentucky and so on.. like drive me to heaven..not to talk about the metal guitar...TKS 1th once more
Vito from Turin Italy
@markstatman7740
National, no, international treasure. Willie.
@normsweet1710
What a great tribute to a fellow Texan ! With many of the greats of country music.
@janetfarris3739
I dearly love this song. My Momma always sang this song. That's how brother and I loved music. We were dancing our shoes off at the old Circle R. 😆
@herbie651
there will never be another Hank, Patsy or Willie. Clearly remember hearing " Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" for the first time on the car radio. A Willie fan from that time on. Saw him with Waylon in Adelaide a few years back. what a concert.
@ChildoftheKing1965
I LOVE YOU WILLIE!!!
@Gabriel72MJ
Long Live Willie
@aletamull5207
Noone Like You Willie You're One Of A Kind.
@JosephineOliver-qh1te
Nailed it, thanks Willie and the boys! Loved the sound of the steel guitar, true blue country sound 👏🏼👍🏼