Song Lyrics Analysis Essay

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"When I was your Man" By Bruno Mars



Gifted Grammy award-winning singer, Bruno Mars, in his "When I Was Your Man," has largely utilized sad and regretful lyrics portraying longing for the woman who left him. However, does this really indicate he's now more sensible and mature, or is it simply wishful thinking? "When I was your Man" strikes straight at the hearts of people who lost a special person or loved someone deeply but did not realize it and failed to value them till it was too late. This song's lyrics depict a multitude of emotions such as remorse, discontent and miserableness expressed effectively through the singer's voice (Louis).



Same bed, but it feels just a little bit bigger now



The musician begins with the typical picture of a ruined relationship: an empty bed with a lone occupant, speaking of loneliness and sadness (Popdust).



Our song on the radio, but it don't sound the same



Once again, the singer is not particularly breaching any line by observing the fact that reminders of prior happiness typically make one highly miserable after the happy days are gone. How wonderful it would have been if the singer was singing a cheerful song!



When our friends talk about you all that it does is just tear me down 'Cause my heart breaks a little when I hear your name



This is another harsh reality of breakups -- the thing that eats most at any heartbroken person's heart would be a mutual friend turning up at one's home to collect an ex-partner's things. The singer broaches numerous common experiences of broken-hearted people after a relationship ends that most listeners can relate to. It is definitely tricky to manage conversations with mutual friends with an ex-partner (Popdust)



And it all just sounds like oh, oh, oh



Following some verses of common experiences, the song then takes off; words fail the singer and he relies on lovesick groans to express his emotions. This overdone part of the song may appear shoddy and needless to listeners, but the singer earns it (Popdust).



Hmmm too young, too dumb to realize



That I should have bought you flowers and held your hand



Should have gave you all my hours when I had the chance



Take you to every party 'cause all you wanted to do was dance



Now my baby is dancing, but she's dancing with another man.



It is vital to engage in self-reflection. This is the "I am wrong and I regret it" kind of sweet breakup record in contrast to the insulting ones that scream to the ex that they're pathetic and that all the time spent with them was a waste. Clearly, the singer's former partner is now with someone else, which partly accounts for his longing. It is only natural to crave something one simply cannot have (Popdust).



My pride, my ego, my needs and my selfish ways



Caused a good strong woman like you to walk out my life



Now I never, never get to clean up the mess I made



And it haunts me every time I close my eyes



It all just sounds like oh, oh, oh, oh



Once again, it is a brave move to accept one's mistakes and Bruno realizes where he went wrong with the relationship, but what's the real reason for his pining for the woman? Apparently, he continues to be guided by his ego, which desires redemption. He wishes to regain the positive image of himself. It appears his former girlfriend's happiness does not factor into this. Although he believes that at the end of it all, he has learnt his lesson and grown more sensible and mature, one lesson remains for him to learn.

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He won't get what he wants through a fairytale reunion; he needs to put in considerable emotional effort to attain it (Popdust).



Now my baby is dancing, but she's dancing with another man



Although it hurts I'll be the first to say that I was wrong



Oh, I know I'm probably much too late



To try and apologize for my mistakes



However, clearly, apologizing is no wrong step to take. An apology to an individual one has hurt is acceptable any time so long as one understands that: 1) the request for forgiveness was more for oneself than for the person one hurt; and 2) an apology does not entitle one to anything, and the other person is free to not accept one's apology (Popdust).



But I just want you to know



I hope he buys you flowers, I hope he holds your hand



Give you all his hours when he has the chance



Take you to every party 'cause I remember how much you loved to dance



Do all the things I should have done when I was your man



Do all the things I should have done when I was your man



Once again, superficially, this song seems like a generous sentiment; after all, Bruno simply wishes for his former girlfriend's happiness. But saying this directly to her appears somewhat condescending and he might not elicit the desired reaction from the girl or from his listeners (Popdust).



The song effectively communicates to listeners through the employment of diverse emotions and tones: realization, hope, regret, nostalgia and disappointment.



Regret- The singer creates an apologetic ambiance, regretting his treatment of his ex-girlfriend, reflecting on how it's too late as she has gone on to forge another relationship, and his realization of his errors. He is now in anguish and yearns for the time he once enjoyed with her (Kay). He explains his carelessness and indifference to his mistakes. He realizes he committed very less time to her, and talks about all the things he ought to have done, but didn't. This song is dedicated to the woman who left him, displaying his regret for the end of their relationship. The singer, perhaps, wishes to warn other men to value their relationships before they get ruined (Wells).



Nostalgia- The lyrics create a nostalgic tone. The singer speaks about his bittersweet relationships and his longing for his past happiness and memories. He misses the way things were between them, but now all he has left is to cope with his selfish decisions. He reflectively explains his deepest thoughts and conveys his vision for his listeners to comprehend and feel his emotional turmoil.



Hope- The song ends on a hopeful note. Bruno sings about how he wishes her new boyfriend does all those things he failed to do: "I hope he buys you flowers, i hope he holds your hand..." (Kay)



Disappointment- Bruno is disenchanted with himself. He knows he is responsible for his own unhappiness and is, thus, resentful of himself. But the song reveals that he is both foolishly maudlin and weakly emotional, owing to the self-resentment he expresses. Had he not been blind to all but his personal mean deeds and needs, his girl wouldn't have left him. He is aware that his loss was an avoidable one, which is the reason he is openly accepting his faults (Kay). He is frank, truthful, and earnest. He understands his mistakes and assumes complete accountability for them. He is even aware of how he can make things right. His honesty is evidenced by the lines: although it hurts, I will be the first to say that i was wrong. Oh, i know it probably much too late, to try and apologize for my mistakes, but i just….....

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Works Cited


"Bon Jovi - bed of roses lyrics." Songmeanings, n.d. Audio Recording. 15 Dec. 2016.

Kay, Zainab. Tone in Bruno mars- when I was your man. prezi.com, 2016. Web. 15 Dec. 2016.

Louis, Kenal. "When I was your man Bruno Mars lyrics deliver emotion." Music Reviews. Cool World of Art - Kenalsworld by Kenal Louis - Visual Artist, 3 Dec. 2012. Web. 15 Dec. 2016.

Popdust. Bruno Mars "when I was your man" lyrics analysis: How sorry is he, really? Popdust, 8 Apr. 2013. Web. 15 Dec. 2016.

Wells, Lucero. Lyric analysis: When i was your man by Bruno Mars (English 1). prezi.com, 2016. Web. 15 Dec. 2016.

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