Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: french
Song Meaning of “51 ways to leave your lover” by Tristesse Contemporaine
“51 Ways To Leave Your Lover” by Tristesse Contemporaine explores the many facets of breaking up with someone – from the difficult sheer emotions and pain, to the empowering feeling of finally ending a relationship. The song speaks to the struggles that come with letting someone go who was so close and dear to the narrator’s heart.
The lyrics speak to the uncertainty of the break up, and to the fear the narrator has of how this will hurt the one they are leaving. It expresses how the narrator wanted the best for the other, and that the leaving is more than likely for the best. There’s a sense of desperation in the chorus when they sing “there’s gotta be 51 ways to leave your lover” – an indication of the many paths the narrator finds themselves considering before finally settling on their decision.
At the same time, the song also speaks to the courage that the narrator mustered in order to take the leap and leave. Being able to move on is ultimately the eventual path that is taken, even when it’s difficult and painful. There’s a sense of resolution in that the love and bond the narrator has with the other will still exist – it just no longer entails a romantic or physical connection. The narrator has the strength to walk away despite the heartache they’re left with – and the song serves as a reminder of the mighty strength of the human spirit.