In every heart there is a room
A sanctuary safe and strong
To heal the wounds from lovers past
Until a new one comes along

I spoke to you in cautious tones
You answered me with no pretense
And still I feel I said too much
My silence is my self defense

And every time I've held a rose
It seems I only felt the thorns
And so it goes, and so it goes
And so will you soon I suppose

But if my silence made you leave
Then that would be my worst mistake
So I will share this room with you
And you can have this heart to break

And this is why my eyes are closed
It's just as well for all I've seen
And so it goes, and so it goes
And you're the only one who knows

So I would choose to be with you
That's if the choice were mine to make
But you can make decisions too
And you can have this heart to break

And so it goes, and so it goes
And you're the only one who knows.



Lyrics submitted by kevin

Track duration: 03:36

"And So It Goes" as written by Billy Joel

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


And So It Goes song meanings
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53 Comments

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  • 0
    Song Meaning:Does anyone else think this song is at least partially inspired by Slaughterhouse 5, or is it a coincidence?
    Flag Salvaron November 23, 2010   Link
  • 0
    Memory:This is a song that perfectly describes my relationship with my husband (then boyfriend) at one point... I sang it for him and he said it was beautiful, but ridiculous because he'd never choose to break my heart. < 3
    Flag Equationson November 14, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:They're right. It's about Elle MacPherson, not Elizabeth, though it's entirely possible that (based on other things we know about Joel) the two were taking place at about the same time.

    I admire and respect the man, and he's probably my favorite artist of all time, but even I can admit that he isn't exactly known for his fidelity.

    He does state in interviews that this about Elle however, and they didn't start (publicly) dating until he was divorced from Elizabeth.
    Flag Alastoron July 20, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is about Elle Macpherson as Uncle Monkey pointed out earlier. From Billy's Greatest Hits Volume 3 DVD interview he explains how the song is about a doomed love. Loving someone but realizing that the relationship is not going to last. I have seen another interview of his where he explains that Elle was a lot younger than him and he knew it wasn't going to last. The song was written a long time before Storm Front came out.
    Flag grock22on June 29, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Also, I know that the line "And so it goes, and so it goes" means something entirely different from my own interpretation. But in the context of my situation, this line talks about how time moves on, whether you want to pause in the moment or rewind to remake a decision. For me, it grasps my thought on how time is so fleeting. And the moment that I'm dreading is going to come eventually. It's also hopeful in a way, that although I'll be deeply hurt, time will go on and my wound "from a lover's past" will heal when another comes along.
    Flag icansingmyabdon May 31, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Also, I just admire the subtlety in the connection between

    "My silence is my self-defense" and "But if my silence made you leave"
    Flag icansingmyabdon May 31, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The lyrics for this song are pretty straightforward and simple, but I really think that this song is supposed to relate to a breakup. Not someone who wants someone else to like them, but knows it not gonna happen, etc. etc.

    "In every heart there is a room
    A sanctuary safe and strong
    To heal the wounds from lovers past
    Until a new one comes along"

    This first stanza is not exactly an intro, but a synopsis of the song. The last two lines suggest that the narrator is going through a breakup.

    I guess the reason why I'm writing this is because, like everyone else here, I relate to this song and cry to it. I've been with someone for more than half a year now, and after this summer we're probably breaking up because of college/distance.

    "I spoke to you in cautious tones
    You answered me with no pretense
    And still I feel I said too much
    My silence is my self defense"

    This part really speaks to me. When we talked about this inevitable situation, he really "answered with no pretense." And for me, I draw back in silence because I'm always too afraid to speak out my feelings. It's almost as if speaking them out is confronting my feelings, which will lead to more tears and pain.

    "So I would choose to be with you
    That's if the choice were mine to make
    But you can make decisions too
    And you can have this heart to break"

    This part always makes me cry the hardest. I feel that since I'm the one staying, and he the one leaving..he feels more comfortable ending the relationship, because he's moving on to something new and exciting. It is really up to him to decide how this relationship will play out in the end, and I think the narrator here feels the same way. Just waiting for the verdict.

    If you actually read through all this, thank you, and this song is really therapeutic for me.
    Flag icansingmyabdon May 31, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"My silence is my self defense".....Holy crap thats beautiful
    Flag KangarooCryon February 19, 2010   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:In every heart there is a room, (there is a place of refuge within ones self)
    A sanctuary safe and strong, (A place of healing and safety from heart break)
    To heal the wounds of lovers past, (It is a place of recovery from past heart break)
    Until a new one comes a long, (Until a new lover comes along)

    I spoke to you (new lover) in cautious tone, (I was scared to tell you about myself)
    You answered me with no pretense, (You answered me without pretending to love me)
    But still i fear ive said to much, (Im afraid ive told you to much about my self)
    My silence is my self defense, (Being quiet is the only way to keep from being hurt again)

    And every time ive held a rose, (every time that ive had love)
    It seems ive only felt the thorns, (its seems ive always gotten hurt)
    And so it goes, and so it goes, (And so it leaves me)
    And so will you soon i suppose, (Im guessing you will leave me heart broken like every one else has)

    But if my silence made you leave, (If my insecurity made you leave me)
    Then that would be my worst mistake, (Then i could miss out on true love)
    So i will share this room with you, (So you can enter my place of refuge)
    And you can have this heart to break, (And you can break my heart)

    And this is why my eyes are closed, (This is why i cant see if you will hurt me)
    Its just as well for all ive seen, (Its because ive seen alot of people who love me and leave me)
    And so it goes and so it goes, (And it continues)
    But your the only one who knows, (You are the first person ive told this to)

    So i will choose to be with you, (I will trust you)
    As if the choice were mine to make, (As if I could resist you)
    But you can make decisions too, (But you can do what you want to me)
    And you can have this heart to break, (And you can break my heart)

    This song not only touches on heart break but it touches on the effects of heart break. After a heart is broken the person tends to be more cautious, and to say the least timid, about trusting another person. But the previous lover masked them selves so well that there is no way for a person with a broken heart to tell the difference between someone trying to hurt them or love them. So after a while the person with a broken heart will surrender his/her defense and just give in to anyone that seems suitable. Giving that person the chance to break there heart once more.

    -Anthony Johnson



    Flag Ayjizzy010on January 19, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:To write a song this deep, you MUST know what hurt is. The great songwriters have LIVED. That is the only way they can touch you so profoundly.

    What a piece life this song is!
    Flag MarkL5on December 22, 2009   Link

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