I Told You
Heartbreaking Confessions: "I Told You" - The Thorns Song Analysis
Lyrics
Maybe from the outside
Expressing doubt or discrepancy between external appearances and internal feelings.
Things look all right
Suggesting that outward appearances may deceive observers into thinking everything is fine.
But you know it isn't so
Contradicting the notion of well-being from the previous line, implying a hidden struggle.
'Cause baby, on the inside
Revealing a personal struggle or emotional conflict within the speaker.
I spent all night
Indicating a restless night spent contemplating reasons to end a relationship.
Counting reasons I should go
Highlighting the internal turmoil and the consideration of leaving the relationship.
How will I know when love's true
Pondering the difficulty of recognizing genuine love when it comes.
If it comes for real?
Raising a question about the authenticity of love if and when it appears.
I told you that you
Stating a previous advice or warning given to the listener.
Shouldn't let me hold you
Advising against letting the speaker hold the listener emotionally.
'Cause it breaks my heart again
Explaining the emotional consequences for the speaker when the listener allows closeness.
Every time you turn away
Describing the emotional impact of the listener turning away from the speaker.
I don't wanna go there
Expressing a reluctance to revisit a painful emotional place or memory.
'Cause I've had my share
Referring to past experiences of trusting dishonest lovers.
Of believing lovers' lies
Recalling previous instances of being deceived by romantic partners.
And you've already shown me
Acknowledging the listener's actions have demonstrated a lack of transparency.
That I can't see
Implying that the speaker cannot discern the truth solely by looking into the listener's eyes.
Just by looking in your eyes
Highlighting the limitations of relying on visual cues to understand someone's emotions.
So how will I know when love's true
Repeating the earlier question about recognizing true love when it arrives.
If it comes for real?
Persisting uncertainty about the authenticity of love when it appears genuinely.
I told you that you
Reiteration of the warning against allowing emotional closeness.
Shouldn't let me hold you
Emphasizing the emotional impact on the speaker when the listener allows closeness.
'Cause it breaks my heart again
Describing the emotional consequences for the speaker when the listener turns away.
Every time you turn away
Expressing the repetitive nature of emotional pain when the listener withdraws.
How will I know when love's true
Posing the same question about recognizing genuine love when it arrives.
If it comes for real?
Repeating uncertainty about the authenticity of love when it appears genuinely.
I told you that you
Reiteration of the warning against allowing emotional closeness.
Shouldn't let me hold you
Emphasizing the emotional impact on the speaker when the listener allows closeness.
'Cause it breaks my heart again
Describing the repetitive emotional consequences when the listener turns away.
Breaks my heart again
Emphasizing the recurrent nature of heartbreak and emotional pain.
Break my heart again
Repetition of the idea of emotional pain and heartbreak.
Break my heart again
Repetition, possibly underscoring the enduring and cyclical nature of emotional suffering.
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