The Heart Of The Matter
by Don Henley
Summary
"The Heart Of The Matter" dives deep into love, loss, and the importance of forgiveness. Don Henley reflects on the struggles of moving on while acknowledging that you can still miss someone. It’s all about learning to let go and finding peace.
Full Analysis
The song explores the emotional journey of dealing with heartbreak and disappointment. Henley captures the feeling of being caught between wanting to hold on and needing to let go. It's a raw look at how relationships can change us and how we can wrestle with our feelings long after they’re gone. The heart of the song is about forgiveness, emphasizing how it’s crucial for healing, even when love fades.
Verse 1
I got the call today, I didn't wanna hear
But I knew that it would come
An old true friend of ours was talkin' on the phone
She said you found someone
And I thought of all the bad luck
And the struggles we went through
And how I lost me
And you lost you
This verse sets the stage for the song. Henley describes getting news that he wasn’t ready for, hinting at the pain of seeing an ex move on. The mention of an "old true friend" suggests a shared history, making the news feel even more personal. The lines about losing oneself in the relationship emphasize how deeply intertwined their lives were, and the loss is felt on both sides.
Chorus
*But I'm learning to live without you now / But I miss you sometimes / The more I know, the less I understand / All the things I thought I knew
Full Lyrics
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But I knew that it would come
An old true friend of ours was talkin' on the phone
She said you found someone
And I thought of all the bad luck
And the struggles we went through
And how I lost me
And you lost you
What are these voices outside love's open door
Make us throw off our contentment
And beg for something more?
But I'm learning to live without you now
But I miss you sometimes
The more I know, the less I understand
All the things I thought I knew
I'm learning again
I've been tryin' to get down
To the heart of the matter
But my will gets weak
And my thoughts seem to scatter
But I think it's about
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Even if, even if
You don't love me anymore
Ah, these times are so uncertain
There's a yearning undefined
And people filled with rage
We all need a little tenderness
How can love survive
In such a graceless age?
Ah, the trust and self-assurance
That lead to happiness
They're the very things
We kill, I guess
Oh, pride and competition
Cannot fill these empty arms
And the work I put between us
You know it doesn't keep me warm
I'm learning to live without you now
But I miss you, baby
And the more I know, the less I understand
All the things I thought I figured out
I have to learn again
I've been tryin' to get down
To the heart of the matter
But everything changes
And my friends seem to scatter
But I think it's about
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Even if, even if
You don't love me anymore
There are people in your life
Who've come and gone
They let you down
You know they hurt your pride
You better put it all behind you, baby
Cause life goes on
You keep carryin' that anger
It'll eat you up inside, baby
I've been tryin' to get down
To the heart of the matter
But my will gets weak
And my thoughts seem to scatter
But I think it's about
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Even if, even if
You don't love me
I've been tryin' to get down
To the heart of the matter
Because the flesh will get weak
And the ashes will scatter
So I'm thinkin' about
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Even if, even if
You don't love me
Forgiveness (Yeah)
Forgiveness (Baby)
Forgiveness (Oh, oh)
Forgiveness (Ah, yeah)
Forgiveness (Oh)
Forgiveness
Even if
You don't love me anymore
Forgiveness (Oh)
Forgiveness (Ahh, yeah)
Forgiveness
Forgiveness
(Heyy, yeah)
