Released in 2008 as the third single from their debut album The Script, “Breakeven” is one of The Script’s most successful songs. Written by band members Danny O’Donoghue and Mark Sheehan, the song is a heartbreaking ballad about a relationship that has ended and the pain of trying to move on. The song’s lyrics are powerful, capturing the emotion of the situation in a way that resonates with many people. So what is the meaning behind the song’s lyrics? Let’s take a look.

The First Verse

The song’s first verse sets the scene, with the narrator describing how his relationship has ended and how he is struggling to come to terms with it. He talks about how he “tried to keep it together”, but he’s “falling apart”. He also talks about how he is “trying to find a way”, suggesting that he is looking for a way to move on from the relationship. The verse ends with the lines “just so you can see what you mean to me, you know I’m barely breathing”, suggesting that he is in a state of shock and is struggling to come to terms with the breakup.

The Chorus

The chorus of “Breakeven” is the song’s most memorable part. The narrator sings “If you ever loved somebody, put your hands up,” suggesting that if the listener has ever been in love, they will be able to relate to his pain. He then sings the song’s title, “Breakeven”, which is an expression used to describe a situation where two parties are equally damaged. In this case, the narrator is suggesting that he and his partner are both equally hurt by the breakup.

The Second Verse

The second verse of “Breakeven” sees the narrator describing the pain he is feeling. He talks about how he is “trying to find his own way out” and how he “doesn’t know what he’s gonna do”. He sings about how he “tries to make it through the day” and how he “wears a mask so no one knows”. These lines suggest that he is struggling to cope with his pain and is trying to hide it from the world. The verse ends with the lines “but somebody’s gonna have to take the blame, it might as well be me”, suggesting that he is taking responsibility for the breakup.

The Bridge

The bridge of “Breakeven” sees the narrator reflecting on his relationship and how it ended. He sings “but it’s not the way it used to be, when you held me, held me like you’d never let me go”, suggesting that his relationship was once strong but has now ended. He also sings “we were so invincible, thought love was never gonna end”, suggesting that he once thought his love would last forever. The bridge ends with the lines “but now that it’s over, there’s nothing left to do, but break even”, suggesting that his only option is to try and move on.

The Final Chorus

The song’s final chorus sees the narrator singing “if you ever loved somebody, put your hands up” once again. This time, however, he adds the line “you can leave it all behind”, suggesting that he is trying to move on from the relationship. The chorus ends with the lines “just so you can see what you mean to me, I’m going to breakeven”, suggesting that he is trying to find a way to move on, even though it will be difficult.

Conclusion

The Script’s “Breakeven” is a powerful and emotional song about the pain of a relationship ending. The song’s lyrics capture the emotion of the situation in a way that resonates with many people. The song’s lyrics tell the story of a man struggling to cope with the end of his relationship, and the pain of trying to move on. The song’s chorus is particularly powerful, with the narrator asking the listener to “put your hands up” if they have ever loved someone, suggesting that they will be able to relate to his pain. “Breakeven” is a powerful and moving song that resonates with many people.