Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: emo
Song Meaning of “Breakup Day” by The Starting Line
‘Breakup Day’ by The Starting Line tells the story of a broken relationship and the emotion of wanting the other person to stay yet knowing it’s best to let them go. The somber, folky instrumentals create a solemn atmosphere to reflect the singer’s feelings.
The song begins with a gentle, melancholic strum of a guitar and the singer admitting that they can no longer pretend that their relationship is alright. The lyrics “It’s so hard to let go, but I know it’s for the best” reveal a complex battle between head and heart. In a sense, the singer is mourning the loss of Someone they cared for, and ultimately surrendering to the fact that they have to lose them in order to free themselves from further hurt and disappointment.
The change in the chorus is when the singer begins to take a more optimistic approach and find peace in their decision. As the chorus comes to an end, the guitar builds and he expresses bittersweet reflection in his lines “If today’s the last time that I will see you, I’ll just try to remember all the good things that we’ve been through.” The message is simple; although the relationship is over, it’s important to recognize and appreciate all the good things that had come out of it.
On ‘Breakup Day’, The Starting Line effectively deliver a powerful message of the complicated nature of a break-up and the bittersweet feeling of ending a relationship. By taking a more positive approach to heartache, they elegantly capture the feeling of healing through closure. Though the final words of the song emphasize that it is a “breakup day,” the singer is ultimately able to find comfort in that closure.