Meaning

In a 2008 interview with MTV, Bareilles explained that her record label had been pushing her to write more material, and she was having a tough time writing something they were satisfied with.

Her record label wanted her to write a love song. Because they asked for it, because they needed one. It was basically a big "F you"

Would @SaraBareilles be as popular today if she wrote him a love song because he asked for it? Because he needed one?”

it was never about a he.

Lyrics

Head under water
And they tell me to breathe easy for a while
Breathing gets harder,
Even I know that
Made room for me
It's too soon to see
If I'm happy in your hands
I'm unusually hard to hold on to

blank stares at blank pages
No easy way to say this
You mean well,
but you make this hard on me

I'm not gonna write you a love song
'Cause you asked for it
'Cause you need one, you see
I'm not gonna write you a love song
'Cause you tell me it's make or break in this
If you're on your way
I'm not gonna write you to stay
If all you have is leaving
I'mma need a better reason
To write you a love song today, today

I learned the hard way
That they all say things you wanna hear
My heavy heart sinks deep down under you
and your twisted words,
Your help just hurts
You are not what I thought you were
Hello to high and dry

Convinced me to please you
Made me think that I need this too
I'm trying to let you hear me as I am

I'm not gonna write you a love song
'Cause you asked for it
'Cause you need one, you see
I'm not gonna write you a love song
'Cause you tell me it's make or break in this
If you're on your way
I'm not gonna write you to stay
If all you have is leaving
I'mma need a better reason
To write you a love song today

Promise me, you'll leave the light on
To help me see daylight my guide gone
'Cause I believe there's a way you can love me
Because I say

I won't write you a love song
'Cause you asked for it
'Cause you need one, you see
I'm not gonna write you a love song
'Cause you tell me it's make or break in this

Is that why you wanted a love song?
'Cause you asked for it
'Cause you need one, you see
I'm not gonna write you a love song
'Cause you tell me it's make or break in this
If you're on your way
I'm not gonna write you to stay
If your heart is nowhere in it
I don't want it for a minute
Babe, I'll walk the seven seas
When I believe that there's a reason
To write you a love song today, today
Play with the song, fill the gaps
Legend
  • The video player plays from the time specified
  • Chorus
  • People Talking

Vocabulary

make or break

success or failure (ES: decisivo)
It is make-or-break time for the store after two years of declining sales.

leave sb high and dry

to do something that is not at all convenient for someone and puts them in a very difficult situation

Blank stare

a look that shows one does not understand what someone has said or does not know the answer to a question (ES: mirada perdida)