Broken Glass
Yngwie J. Malmsteen´s Lyrics

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(Japanese bonus track)

I paid the piper with my song
For all the times I've done you wrong
I watched the devil get his due
And I knew that was for you

It breaks my heart

Our time has passed by telling lies
I fall apart
Like broken glass on shattered ice

We gave up our love within
To keep ourselves from giving in
I know my world will always turn
When you burn, you'll live and learn

Like an intruder in your arms
I never meant to do you harm

I know my song, it will remain
All the same, I feel the pain

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Yngwie J. Malmsteen's song "Broken Glass" revolve around the idea of regret and pain caused by a failed relationship. The singer acknowledges that he mistreated his partner and now he feels the consequences. He has paid the piper with his song, which means that he has suffered the consequences of his actions. He has watched the devil get his due, indicating that his wrongdoing has caught up to him. Yet, despite this realization, the time for reconciliation has passed, and lies have been told. The singer's heart is now broken, like broken glass on shattered ice.

The song suggests that the couple gave up their love in an attempt to protect themselves from giving in to the emotions that they could not control. However, the singer also believes that the world will continue to turn, and life goes on; it becomes a cycle of burning, learning and moving on. The chorus reinforces the imagery of brokenness, indicating the shattered state of the relationship. The singer feels like an intruder in his partner's arms, acknowledging that he never intended to hurt them. However, the pain remains, borne out of his regret for the relationship's failure.

In essence, the song is a lament for the end of the relationship, the pain it caused, and the realization that things could have been different.

Line by Line Meaning

I paid the piper with my song
I suffered the consequences of my own actions and mistakes, just like the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, by sacrificing my passion and my music.

For all the times I've done you wrong
I, the singer, have wronged you too many times and damaged our relationship.

I watched the devil get his due
I saw karma take its course and punish the one who deserved it.

And I knew that was for you
I realized that the universe was trying to right the wrong done to you and that the process was not to be interfered with.

It breaks my heart
The situation is so painful that my heart is shattering into pieces.

Our time has passed by telling lies
Our relationship was built on deception and dishonesty, hence, it fades away as the truth comes to light.

I fall apart
The feeling of losing you is so overwhelming that I am falling apart emotionally and mentally.

Like broken glass on shattered ice
My feelings are now as delicate and fragile as shattered ice and can cut as deeply and painfully as broken glass.

We gave up our love within
We both decided to give up on our love and go separate ways in order to prevent ourselves from being hurt more deeply.

To keep ourselves from giving in
We stopped ourselves from giving in to the temptation of being together again and choosing the harder but healthier path of separation.

I know my world will always turn
I am aware that life goes on, and time will heal the wounds I feel now.

When you burn, you'll live and learn
When you face the consequences of your actions, your negative experiences will teach you valuable lessons, and you will become wiser.

Like an intruder in your arms
I feel like a stranger or an intruder when I am in your embrace or near you.

I never meant to do you harm
Despite hurting you, I did not intend to cause you harm, and it was an unintentional mistake.

I know my song, it will remain
Although everything else has changed, I know that my passion for music stays the same and will never change.

All the same, I feel the pain
Even though music helps me cope and distract myself from the pain, I still experience it.

Contributed by Madison S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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