Florence and the Machine – Breaking Down

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  General Comment:This is a weird observation but does anyone else think the music reminds them of the score from the movie The Truman Show? That's probably just me, but every time I listen to this song, I hear the similarities.

  Flag musicloverforlifeon March 07, 2013   Link

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  Song Meaning:It's about her illusions/delusions.

  Flag lamehermanon January 08, 2013   Link

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  General Comment:It's about some dude feeling crappy and awaiting the return to town of his girlfriend who will make everything better. And in April he'll have a new one. And then perhaps July or August. He may be breaking down now, but it's temporary. And he once again picks being alone than being with someone. Great testament.

  Flag ComeOnEileenon December 30, 2012   Link

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• +2
  My Interpretation:I think this song is about death and how it always lies in wait, as a child you fear it but as you become old you accept it. The lyrics, "I think I'm breaking down again," imply she is struggling to accept the concept that death cannot be avoided, and so she runs blindly from it. But, as she grows older she sees it is always in wait until eventually she is very old and welcomes it's embrace. In the final verse the lyrics, "My old familiar friend comes and lies down next to me," shows she's finally stopped running, and realizes there was nothing to fear all along. Perhaps the final chorus is her regretting that she wasted her time running and fearing the unknown, when she could have had a better life... But that's just the story I think the song is telling, probably not the real meaning but ah well.

  Flagged QueenNyxon December 30, 2012   Link

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• +2
  My Interpretation:Okay, if you've seen "Spirited Away" by Miyazaki, you know the "spirits" with black bodies and glowing eyes? That's what this song makes me picture. I picture Florence as a child with a spooky looking imaginary friend walking towards her from the corner of her dark room or from the streetlamp that she can see from out her window. She's lonely and sad. She has a breakdown, and her imaginary friend visits her. Even though he scares her a little, she's comforted by him.
  By the age of adulthood, the dark figure can't be shut out and now she has to deal with it forever. I think that it's a metaphor for accepting her loneliness. Because, it comforts and scares her at the same time, and she sadly knows that it's true.

  Flag rellSDFon December 03, 2012   Link

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    exactly!! :)

    Flag leavesintheriveron February 19, 2013  
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  General Comment:besides it seems like she actually is comforted but scared and ashamed of this thing thats creeping towards her and making her "break down". Loneliness isn't comforting.... She's all alone (nodding off) and her old friend comes to keep her company (make her feel good inside) but in actuality shes alone. and knows she's worse off for it...
  sorry to type so much i just love the song.

  Flagged lookiepooon January 31, 2012   Link

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  My Interpretation:I feel the song deals with addiction and relapse. Hear me out. this is my first post btw.... Addiction is lonely and relapse is very depressing but oh so comforting. it's like an old familiar friend coming lying next to you. even when youre completely alone. Even as a child she may have dealt with addiction but more like the monster it truly is (from an addicted parent). She'd always known there was something to be frightened of. And now as an adult who is "breaking down", even with her eyes shut tight she feels that old familiar "friend" ("sting" in the words of Trent Reznor and J. Cash), coming and lying down next to her. True it may not be her addiction, heroin addiction or addiction at all, and this is all speculation but, I thought it was a more insightful explanation than "being lonely".

  Flagged lookiepooon January 31, 2012   Link

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• +3
  General Comment:The line, "My old familiar friend comes down and lies next to me", referring to her depression getting worse even when she tries to cure it (even with my eyes shut tight), is such a heartbreaking part of the song because she doesn't want to be depressed, but it's still there; it's always been there. For those who have been depressed, you can relate to the song when you feel the insidious depressed feelings arise out of you and feel there is nothing you can do.

  Flagged ucs806on January 29, 2012   Link

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• +2
  General Comment:It comes across as depression or loneliness and the vocals contrast with the music beautifully, the parts when she sings "I can see it coming from the edge of the room..... can you see it coming now" it's like a half-hearted fanfare in the vocals as if she sees hope but realises there is no point and "breaks down again". The fact that the lyrics change at the end seems pretty significant "Smiling in the streetlight .... I can see it coming now" suggests that she has tried to rid of this loneliness/depression and has failed and she realises she is doomed to it again "My old familiar friend" may say that she's had this feeling before and knows it well, also the music calms down here and becomes more placid this could suggest that she has lost hope. the last two lines are sung higher and louder like a shout showing complete frustration and anger possibly at herself for letting herself break down or it could be the beginning of the breakdown it's self....
  
  Wow I just kind of kept going didn't I. sorry it's such a long comment :D

  Flag Flibbertiggebeton December 16, 2011   Link

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  Song Meaning:Well she's talking about lonliness and depression whenever you hear the word "IT" you should know that she's referring those two things

  Flag oushooon November 29, 2011   Link

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