I thought it was funny when you missed the train
When I rang you at home they said you left yesterday
I thought it was strange when your car was found
By the tree in Ennis where we used to hang around

Dear Isobel
I hope you're well and what you've done is right
Oh it's been such hell
I wish you well I hope you're safe tonight

It's been a long day coming and long will it last
When it's last day leaving, and I'm helping it pass by loving you more

And who he would become, all the things he'd have done
Would he have loved you, and not let you down
And would he be stronger than his father
Don't punish yourself, leave it well alone

Dear Isobel
I hope you're well and what you've done is right
Oh it's been such hell
I wish you well I hope you're safe tonight

It's been a long day coming and long will it last
When it's last day leaving, and I'm helping it pass by loving you more

It's been a long day coming and long will it last
When it's last day leaving, and I'm helping it pass by loving, loving you more.


Lyrics submitted by Radioactive Man, edited by Misio

Isobel Lyrics as written by Rollo Armstrong Dido Armstrong

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Isobel song meanings
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39 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    I think I remember hearing that it's about one of Dido's friends going to have an abortion... "Who he would become, all the things he'd have done, Would he have loved you and not let you down, And would he be stronger than his father, Don't punish yourself, leave it well alone"

    Farfalla27on July 20, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    My wife's take on this song combines the abortion and suicide theories. Isobel has the abortion and then feels so overwhelmed with guilt that she kills herself. In any case, it seems like the lyrics are ambiguous enough to embrace any of these ideas.

    JustBenon March 14, 2005   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Maybe the song is about suicide ANDabortion, like she was pregnant and she killed both herself and the baby?

    quachyon July 20, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i thought it was maybe she killed herself but lines like 'i hope you're safe tonight' and 'im helping it pass' maybe make me think its just that shes left but forever. But its does have that haunting feeling throughout. This is my fav on the album after much deliberation, have u noticed its so hard to choose one!

    eatmorefruitandnuton July 02, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think she killed herself and this is a very very sad one... but still such a bittersweet song....

    Sunnyon July 18, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i think isobel may have killed herself or just runaway because she was scared of someone or something. maybe she came from an abusive relationship and she could have been pregnant even. i agree it is a real sad song and very touching. i love it.

    lunagurlon July 23, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think that this is about a friend of Dido's who is missing for a long time.I really think that the "pregnancy" and the "abortion" theory might be right and that Isobel has left home because she wanted to keep the baby and her parents/lover didn't.It is a sad song but I like it because it shows that Dido loves her friend

    Idion September 27, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I feel like this song is about Isobel's abortion and the guilt that she feels for it, and Dido is worried that she has killed herself out of guilt.

    "And who he would become by the things he'd have done Would he have loved you and not let you down And would he be stronger than his father Don't punish yourself, leave it well alone"

    diggerjocon October 12, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    You know... I always thought that the way she phrased two of the lines was interesting.

    "By the tree in Ennis where we used to hang around"

    The word 'hang' has a kind of ominous meaning to me. Like, maybe there's a reason that specific word was chosen instead of something else. Maybe it has a double meaning & Isobel hung herself? Just my two cents.

    dragonsilkon January 12, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think that the part about her (Isobel) not knowing whether "he" would be stronger than his father speaks of an abusive relationship. Maybe he attacked her and she killed him and ran. Maybe she will have to pay for her crime. Possibly Isobel's relationship was with a boy they grew up with who they all knew and they knew his father was an abusive alcoholic and they all thought "he" would be stronger. Then again maybe they planned for Isobel to come see Dido and something happened...a fight and Dido's afraid that Isobel is hurt or hurt herself...but leaving was right....sorry for all the running on, I ran out of breath typing.

    icensnowon September 10, 2009   Link

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