I don't know you but I know what you did to her
She told me and I happen to believe her too

They will be three steps behind
You will not know what's got you
Oh so you're sorry now
All is not well, it's not ended

Hold your breath 'till it's over
There's something left underwater

You've been quiet, there are things
That you do not speak of
But if you stay gone a little
Longer your keys won't work

'Cause I will be two steps behind
You will not know what's got you
Oh so you're sorry now
All is not well, it's not ended

Hold your breath 'till it's over
There's something left underwater

Hold your breath 'till it's over
There's something left underwater

Hold your breath 'till it's over
There's something left underwater

Hold your breath 'till it's over
There's something left underwater



Lyrics submitted by hopeful_canyon

Track duration: 03:48

"We Build Then We Break" as written by Joseph King, Isaac Slade, David Welsh, Benjamin Wysocki

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


We Build Then We Break song meanings
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15 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:I couldn't have said that any better! That's exactly what I think this song means.
    Flag skyflyerjenon April 25, 2011   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:A girl he cares about has told him she was abused when she was little, and he’s confronting the person who did it, even though he’s never met them before, and he is really pissed off. I think the song is about him (wanting to) taking revenge on the person who hurt her, tracking them down when they are not expecting it and ignoring their self-serving apologies.

    The ‘hold your breath until it’s over’ makes me think of the little girl closing her eyes and holding her breath until the abuse was over, and the ‘there’s something left under water’ could mean the something left unresolved in the past, the abuse that has been buried in the memories of the girl and never brought out.

    This also supports ‘you’ve been quiet, there are some things you do not speak of’ meaning the little girl, who learnt never to talk about what happened. ‘but if you stay gone a little longer your keys won't work’ makes me think the abuse has really been mentally torturing this girl all these years, and if she continues to deny it, it could end up really harming her/ making her lose her mind.




    Flag lostspiriton August 14, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Okay, you guys are all talking about abuse. I'm pretty sure it's one further.
    1) I don't know you, but I know what you did to her. ((I'm thinking the guy killed her))

    2) They will be three steps behind you, They will be 3 steps behind
    You will not know what's got you, Oh so you're sorry now

    ((The cops will be three steps behind you, as in, you will have gotten away from the cops, so you won't know what is happening when I get to you))

    3) You've been quiet, there are things that you do not speak of
    But if you stay gone a little longer your keys won't work

    Cause I will be 2 steps behind
    You will not know what's got you
    Oh so you're sorry now

    ((You haven't confessed to it, but I'm figured it out before the cops and will get to you before they do))

    4) Hold your breath til its over
    There's something left underwater

    ((Fight to stay alive till I'm successful in drowning you, That's what you did to her))

    I don't know if I'm right, but it makes sense to me. Maybe not each individual by itself, but if you combine "they will be three steps behind you," and "I will be two steps behind you," it would make sense that he's saying he'll get there first.
    Flag Timewarden17on June 14, 2010   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:This is my interpretation of the song:

    "I don't know you but I know what you did to her
    She told me and I happen to believe her too"

    --I think Isaac is talking about someone he knew that abused someone else, he knows that person, but he no longer knows who they actually are, especially after what they did.

    "They will be 3 steps behind
    You will not know what's got you
    Oh so you're sorry now
    All is not well, its not ended"

    -- I think this could mean two things:
    If it was physical abuse it could be law enforcement coming to get the person, and he suddenly is sorry to do a guily plea and get less punishment or...
    It's the abusers feelings/conscience getting to him. He didn't expect to have these feelings and the 'old' him is coming back and he is suddenly sorry and sees all the wrongs he commited.

    "Hold your breath til its over
    There's something left underwater"

    -- I think this is something the abusee thought while it was happening, and now it starts to also come into play for the abuser. Just hold your breat till its over, then try to make something of what is left of you.

    "You've been quiet, there are things that you do not speak of
    But if you stay gone a little longer your keys won't work"

    -- I think Isaac is talking to the abuser nonconfrontational at first but is getting nowhere; the abuser isn't literally gone, but just not himself and the keys are an allusion to only the abuser can unlock the truth and if he doesn't soon he will never get redemption.

    "Cause I will be 2 steps behind
    You will not know what's got you
    Oh so you're sorry now
    All is not well, its not ended

    Hold your breath til its over
    There's something left underwater"

    -- The abuser never expected Isaac to confront him and is startled , I think it's very deep that Isaac is one step ahead of the other person, whoever it may be. The ending is the same as above."

    Flag neverso1on December 17, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think as you guys have said, it is revengeful.
    to me it sounds like abuse aswell as a possible affair. "there are things you do not speak off" could dignify both, but more importantly "if you stay gone any longer" shows whoever it is is straying somewhere, hence the affair/cheating part, and that they do perhaps live together, hence the "keys." i think the "something left underwater" is also the negative feelings towards that individual, or a supposed outburst on their part.
    Flag MsMe13on December 15, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:He's right, it does sound like Keane... Of all people to sound like Keane, I'm surprised its The Fray.
    Flag unggoyon July 08, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I heard this song and I thought that this was so different and darker than the usual stuff The Fray puts out. I love it!!! Live this song is amazing...Ben does really well on the drums and there are flashing lights.
    Flag onlyoneleft37xon June 30, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song sounds like a vengeful friend speaking to a lover who's hurt a girl he cares about. The first verse is obvious in meaning, and "They will be 3 steps behind, You will not know what's got you" I think refers to feelings of guilt and remorse, or memories. "Hold your breath, till it's over, there's something left underwater", Probably signifies the friend's revenge...saying, watch out, I'll make you join my friend underwater. "You've been quiet, there are things that you do not speak of
    But if you stay gone a little longer your keys won't work", this another "watch out" line, saying you can't hide or run away from what you did, you'll be stuck here forever. "Cause I will be 2 steps behind", is of course, referring to himself now. This song is amazing--wonderfully creepy, and the ending makes me want to dance, really. XD

    Flag deathcode2595on June 17, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It also sounds like the person who is abusive is being either drowned mentally or physically

    "hold your breath, til it's over"



    "they will be 3 steps behind, you will not no what's got you"
    Flag MrNorthQueenslandon June 17, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I agree with everybody else
    Although
    Flag MrNorthQueenslandon June 17, 2009   Link

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