[Verse 1]
All alone
It was always there, you see
And even on my own
It was always standing next to me
[Pre-Chorus]
I can see it coming from the edge of the room
Creeping in the streetlight
Holding my hand in the pale gloom
Can you see it coming now?
[Chorus]
Oh, I think I'm breaking down again
Oh, I think I'm breaking down
[Verse 2]
All alone
Even when I was a child
I've always known
There was something to be frightened of
[Pre-Chorus]
I can see you coming from the edge of the room
Creeping in the streetlight
Holding my hand in the pale gloom
Can you see it coming now?
All alone
It was always there, you see
And even on my own
It was always standing next to me
[Pre-Chorus]
I can see it coming from the edge of the room
Creeping in the streetlight
Holding my hand in the pale gloom
Can you see it coming now?
[Chorus]
Oh, I think I'm breaking down again
Oh, I think I'm breaking down
[Verse 2]
All alone
Even when I was a child
I've always known
There was something to be frightened of
[Pre-Chorus]
I can see you coming from the edge of the room
Creeping in the streetlight
Holding my hand in the pale gloom
Can you see it coming now?
[Chorus]
Oh, I think I'm breaking down again
Oh, I think I'm breaking down
[Verse 3]
All alone
On the edge of sleep
My old familiar friend
Comes and lies down next to me
[Pre-Chorus]
And I can see you coming from the edge of the room
Smiling in the streetlight
Even with my eyes shut tight
I still see him coming now
[Chorus]
Oh, I think I'm breaking down again
Oh, I think I'm breaking down again
Oh, I think I'm breaking down again
Oh, I think I'm breaking down
Oh, I think I'm breaking down again
Oh, I think I'm breaking down
[Verse 3]
All alone
On the edge of sleep
My old familiar friend
Comes and lies down next to me
[Pre-Chorus]
And I can see you coming from the edge of the room
Smiling in the streetlight
Even with my eyes shut tight
I still see him coming now
[Chorus]
Oh, I think I'm breaking down again
Oh, I think I'm breaking down again
Oh, I think I'm breaking down again
Oh, I think I'm breaking down
About
Genius Annotation
The upbeat piano melody of “Breaking Down” is a juxtaposition against the sorrowful whispered vocals, which speak of Florence’s depression as a friend greeting her in the dead of night.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Translations:
Genius Answer
What did Florence + the Machine say about "Breaking Down"?
Genius Answer
Mojo magazine asked Welch if anyone expressed concern for her after reading the lyrics. She replied:
My mum did. I was like, ‘I think this is part of my process of figuring it out.’ I think she should be more worried if I’m not writing about it. ‘Cause then I’d be internalising it, and that’d be worse.
- 2.Shake It Out
- 5.Breaking Down
- 8.Seven Devils
- 9.Heartlines
- 12.Leave My Body
- 13.Remain Nameless
- 15.Bedroom Hymns
- 17.Landscape (Demo)
Credits
Producer
Writer
Label
Keyboards
Video Director
Strings Arranger
Drum Programmer
Mixing Engineer
Assistant Mixing Engineer
Viola
Cello
Recorded At
Abbey Road Studios, London; Wolf Tone Studios, London
Release Date
October 28, 2011
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