If you're going abroad I can't help you
If you're crossing the street I might be there
If you're going abroad I can't help you
If you're crossing the street I might be there

If you're going abroad I can't help you
If you're crossing the street I might be there
If you're going abroad I can't help you
If you're crossing the street I might be there

If you give it a minute, it's wrong
If you give it a minute, it's gone
If we're just waiting a second too long
Darling, I'll leave and you won't come along

So give me the reason to stay
Give me the reason to wait
You know I don't look to get caught
'Cause darling, we're here but my true love is not

Breaking it up before it's on
Breaking it up, it's already gone
Breaking it up, I didn't mean to fraud
Breaking it up

I might be there
If you're going abroad I can't help you
If you're crossing the street I might be there
If you're going abroad I can't help you
If you're crossing the street I might be there

And I call you baby, I will and I do
Persuade you in though I know that we're through
I let you think that I'm yours when I'm not
Keep you here though I'm ready to drop the last line here

Breaking it up before it's on
Breaking it up, it's already gone
Breaking it up, I didn't mean to fraud
Breaking it up

I might be there
If you're going abroad I can't help you
If you're crossing the street I might be there
If you're going abroad I can't help you
If you're crossing the street I might be there

If you're going abroad I can't help you
If you're crossing the street I might be there
If you're going abroad I can't help you
If you're crossing the street I might be there

Breaking it up
Breaking it up
Breaking it up

I might be there
If you're going abroad I can't help you
If you're crossing the street I might be there
If you're going abroad I can't help you
If you're crossing the street I might be there

If you're going abroad I can't help you
If you're crossing the street I might be there
If you're going abroad I can't help you
If you're crossing the street I might be there



Lyrics submitted by milsien

Track duration: 03:41

"Breaking It Up" as written by Bj�rn Daniel Arne Yttling, Lykke Li Timotej Zachrisson

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Breaking It Up song meanings
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16 Comments

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  • 0
    Song Meaning:This song is about an affair in which both parties are involved/in love with other people. She is trying to break the affair off because of emotional or physical distance and the uncertainty about the person she is involved in the affair with.
    Flag COMEFLYWITHMEon October 04, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:So after reading a lot of the comments here, I thought I would give my interpretation of the song.
    I think this song is about her cheating on her boyfriend now talking to her lover.

    If you give it a minute it's gone/ she and her love do not have much time
    If you give it a minute it's wrong/ it's wrong what they are doing
    If we're just waiting a second too long/ If they are waiting a second too long they may get caught or something
    Darling I'll leave and you won't come along/ She's leaving and he's not coming with her, since he's only her lover

    So give me the reason to stay
    Give me the reason to wait/ She needs a reason to stay with the guy (the lover)
    You know I don't look to get caught/ she don't want to get caught
    'Cause darling we're here but my true love is not/ he's just her lover, her true love is not here

    I'm breaking it up, before it's on
    Breaking it up, it's already gone/ breaking the affair up before her relationship is gone
    Breaking it up, I didn't mean to fraud/ she didn't mean to cheat
    Breaking it up

    I let you think that I'm yours when I'm not / she belongs to someone else though she told him or maybe gave him (the lover) the intuition that she was his.
    Keep you here though I'm ready to drop the last line/ Still playing with him, though she's thinking about "breaking it up"

    and and and.... this is just my interpretation of it. could be the other ones as well.
    Flag iannesofieon June 08, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:"If you're going abroad I can't help you
    If you're crossing the street I might be there"

    Definatley not crossing any oceans for you, maybe not even the street. Lol. Love it.
    Flag yummyluvon March 21, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:f you're going abroad I can't help you // if you are going to distance yourself, I can't make you change your mind
    If you're crossing the street I might be there // if you are going to be here, that's where I'll be...maybe

    If you give it a minute it's gone // if you can't decide if you want this
    If you give it a minute it's wrong // if you're trying to find reasons to end it by nitpicking
    If we're just waiting a second too long // if you don't tell me right away and let the issue get out of hand
    Darling I'll leave and you won't come along // The relationship won't work

    So give me the reason to stay //give me the reason to be there
    Give me the reason to wait //give me the reason to give you a chance
    You know I don't look to get caught //why won't you trust me, I wasn't trying to deceive you
    'Cause darling we're here but my true love is not //we're here, but i'm half-way out the door, can't allow myself to fall

    I'm breaking it up, before it's on // don't want to get hurt, breaking up before it's even started
    Breaking it up, it's already gone //breaking up because you don't trust me, it's already over
    Breaking it up, I didn't mean to fraud //breaking up, I didn't mean to lie/withhold facts/deceive
    Breaking it up //breaking up with you

    If you're going abroad I can't help you //if you're going to distance yourself, i'm not going to run after you
    If you're crossing the street I might be there //if you are going to be here, i might change my mind to stay...maybe

    And I call you baby I will and I do //still not over you yet
    Persuade you in though I know that we're through //want to be with you, but you don't trust me so it won't work
    I let you think that I'm yours when I'm not //afraid to let myself fall for you completely, but I'll let you think so
    Keep you here though I'm ready to drop the last line //can't allow myself to get hurt, ready to run if things go wrong

    I'm breaking it up, before it's on //breaking up before I even gave you a chance to prove yourself
    Breaking it up, it's already gone //breaking up, because you don't want this
    Breaking it up, I didn't mean to fraud //breaking up, i'm sorry if I unintentionally mislead you
    Breaking it up //let's just break up

    If you're going abroad I can't help you //if you're not going to be here for me, goodbye
    If you're crossing the street I might be there //if you are going to be here, maybe i'll reconsider...maybe

    Breaking it up //breaking up
    Breaking it up //because things aren't getting any easier
    Flag blondeScientiston March 10, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:Great song! I love like Lykke Li. This song is basically about her being fed up with the mixed signals the douche bag is sending her and stringing her along and she is about to be ready to leave him.

    "If you're going abroad I can't help you" meaning if you're going to be far physically and mentally and if you're not going to be there there's nothing she can do to try to make things work

    "If you're crossing the street I might be there" means he's literally just right there and it's more workable/doable to be with and if he's willing to be there then it might work.

    She pretty much let the relationship linger way too long especially from her expression saying, "If you give it a minute it's wrong, If you give it a minute it's gone, if we're just waiting a second too long. It all means any minute now I'm about to move on if you don't make you're move. She's contemplating and trying to find a reason but she's getting ahead of herself knowing that she's gotta move on bc she's only fooling herself.


    "You know I don't like to get caught" she caught herself falling in love with the wrong person and got caught in a sticky situation.. getting caught meaning she got caught in a mess without her realizing it from the beginning but she's trying to find a reason to stay for last hope.


    And I call you baby I will and I do
    Persuade you in though I know that we're through
    I let you think that I'm yours when I'm not
    Keep you here though I'm ready to drop the last line- (She didn't drop the last line, he didn't really like her from the get go)











    "cause darling we're here but my true love is not" and I didn't mean to fraud" She fooled herself and fell for someone who doesn't even exist, she got caught n still trying to fool herself but she's finding a realizes even before he has a chance to try to proove himself that they will be breaking up.

    Flag swtsmplctyon January 30, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Great song! I love like Lykke Li. This song is basically about her being fed up with the mixed signals the douche bag is sending her and stringing her along and she is about to be ready to leave him.

    "If you're going abroad I can't help you" meaning if you're going to be far physically and mentally and if you're not going to be there there's nothing she can do to try to make things work

    "If you're crossing the street I might be there" means he's literally just right there and it's more workable/doable to be with and if he's willing to be there then it might work.

    She pretty much let the relationship linger way too long especially from her expression saying, "If you give it a minute it's wrong, If you give it a minute it's gone, if we're just waiting a second too long. It all means any minute now I'm about to move on if you don't make you're move. She's contemplating and trying to find a reason but she's getting ahead of herself knowing that she's gotta move on bc she's only fooling herself.


    "You know I don't like to get caught" she caught herself falling in love with the wrong person and got caught in a sticky situation.. getting caught meaning she got caught in a mess without her realizing it from the beginning but she's trying to find a reason to stay for last hope.


    "cause darling we're here but my true love is not" and I didn't mean to fraud" She fooled herself and fell for someone who doesn't even exist, she got caught n still trying to fool herself but she's finding a realizes even before he has a chance to try to proove himself that they will be breaking up.




    Flag swtsmplctyon January 30, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Meh, this song describes every single relationship I've ever been in. I've never really been madly deeply in love, I suppose. Can't believe it takes a song to make you realize that.
    Flag Human-beefon October 31, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:It comes across like the relationship she is in, is on the verge of becoming a long distance type thing.

    If you're going abroad I can't help you
    If you're crossing the street I might be there

    Despite her wanting to continue on with the relationship, she knows deep down that even if this a person she wants to be with and fall in love with, it will eventually lead to a break up. She isn't letting herself fall in love knowing this, but she is compelled to stick with them, maybe desperately hoping that it will all work out. She is preparing for the moment that when it turns south, she will be the one dropping the last like and breaking it up. Very contradicting tones in the music, of wanting to be with someone, and on the other hand, you are preparing for the inevitable end.
    Flag eyes0nfireon June 20, 2010   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:i loe her music she is amzing and talented i wish she would come to chicago
    Flag ninaloveswaggaon May 16, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I just interpret this as her being in a relationship that she's not really serious, even pretending that she's really into the guy, when in reality she's preparing to break it off.
    Flag sibilationon January 14, 2010   Link

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