When You're Gone
Embracing Liberation: When Love Fades Away
Lyrics
I don't want to think about you when you're gone
I want to avoid thoughts of you when you're not around
I don't want to hear your voice talk on the phone
I prefer not to hear your voice talking over the phone
All those notes and all those cards
Referring to letters and cards received; expressing a desire to discard them
I'm going to throw them in the yard
Symbolically throwing away sentimental items in the yard
I'm going to put them in the trash where they belong
Disposed of in the trash, emphasizing the desire to move on
I just want a clean slate, I think I will redecorate
Expressing a desire for a fresh start, contemplating redecoration
Slap some fresh new colors on the walls
Applying new colors to walls as a metaphor for positive change
I'll throw away your letters and rip up all your sweaters
Getting rid of mementos, indicating a determination to erase the past
You can't haunt me, you can't taunt me when you're gone, ah yeah
Asserting that the person's presence won't affect or disturb anymore
Accentuate the positive, that's what the people say
Encouraging a positive outlook despite difficulties
Talk it up, don't let it get you down
Advocating talking about problems instead of succumbing to them
But there's so many negatives that pass along the way
Acknowledging the existence of negative aspects in life
Throw them in the river, let 'em drown
Suggesting a willingness to discard negativity by throwing it away
Bury them in the ground, yeah
Continuation of the metaphor, emphasizing burying negatives
I don't want to read about you when you're gone
Expressing a desire not to read or learn about the person after their departure
I don't want to hear about the things you've done
Preferring not to hear about the person's actions or experiences
I put a filter in my brain, I want to cut out all that pain
Using a mental filter to avoid emotional pain related to the person
I don't want to hear about you when you're gone
Reiterating the aversion to hearing about the person after they're gone
Don't want to hear those melodies, they're like a touch of leprosy
Expressing dislike for familiar melodies associated with the person
I've grown to hate our favourite song
Comparing the melodies to a touch of leprosy, indicating strong aversion
If I hear it on the radio, I grab the damn remote control
Actively avoiding a favorite song linked to the person
You can't haunt me, you can't taunt me when you're gone, aah
Reaffirming that the person's influence is no longer impactful when they're gone
When you're gone all right
Summarizing the sentiment that things are okay when the person is gone
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