This is an exquisitely written, lushly arranged postmortem of a relationship. Few songs capture the essence of heartbreak and melancholy like this one does, both lyrically and musically, and make it so easy on the ears in the process.
Lyrically, the song is clothed in the language of the stage arts. The singer compares her ex-lover's romance of her to a "show" and a "masquerade," with him playing the "one lonely star." But "there's no one here, there's no one in the crowd" -- she's left him. She doubts the sincerity of her ex-lover's words to her: "Say your lines but do you feel them / Do you mean what you say when there's no one around." Evidently his words rang hollow because his love wasn't there; maybe his love had faded and he just couldn't admit it to her, or maybe he never genuinely loved her on a deep level. She is crushed because she always loved him, and he never reciprocated that love. He "took [her] love for granted" and broke her heart, so she's calling it quits: "The show is over, say good-bye."
There's a hint of bitter irony in the second verse, with its parting sideswipes "Hide behind your smile, all the world loves a clown" and "You deserve an award for the role that you played." The singer, perhaps, is too overcome with sorrow to manifest her bitterness as rage, so instead she resorts to flinging sardonic barbs at her ex-lover.
But what really boosts this song to the highest echelon is the arrangement, which hits all the right notes. The languorous melody, spare bass line, muted synths, background vocals echoing key lines -- breaking up never sounded so sad, yet at the same time, so soothing.
I hesitate to categorize this as a breakup song, because it is no ordinary breakup song; it is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard, period. I think this song is perfect for listening to as night falls at the end of a long day, leaving us to reckon with ourselves. It's a reminder that words and appearances only go so far; in the end, it's what we do and who we are inside that counts.
This is an exquisitely written, lushly arranged postmortem of a relationship. Few songs capture the essence of heartbreak and melancholy like this one does, both lyrically and musically, and make it so easy on the ears in the process.
Lyrically, the song is clothed in the language of the stage arts. The singer compares her ex-lover's romance of her to a "show" and a "masquerade," with him playing the "one lonely star." But "there's no one here, there's no one in the crowd" -- she's left him. She doubts the sincerity of her ex-lover's words to her: "Say your lines but do you feel them / Do you mean what you say when there's no one around." Evidently his words rang hollow because his love wasn't there; maybe his love had faded and he just couldn't admit it to her, or maybe he never genuinely loved her on a deep level. She is crushed because she always loved him, and he never reciprocated that love. He "took [her] love for granted" and broke her heart, so she's calling it quits: "The show is over, say good-bye."
There's a hint of bitter irony in the second verse, with its parting sideswipes "Hide behind your smile, all the world loves a clown" and "You deserve an award for the role that you played." The singer, perhaps, is too overcome with sorrow to manifest her bitterness as rage, so instead she resorts to flinging sardonic barbs at her ex-lover.
But what really boosts this song to the highest echelon is the arrangement, which hits all the right notes. The languorous melody, spare bass line, muted synths, background vocals echoing key lines -- breaking up never sounded so sad, yet at the same time, so soothing.
I hesitate to categorize this as a breakup song, because it is no ordinary breakup song; it is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard, period. I think this song is perfect for listening to as night falls at the end of a long day, leaving us to reckon with ourselves. It's a reminder that words and appearances only go so far; in the end, it's what we do and who we are inside that counts.