Every Time I Breathe

Arlissa's song "Every Time I Breathe" delves deep into the emotional turmoil of regret and the haunting nature of past mistakes. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of someone who is constantly reminded of a single, painful memory despite the passage of time and numerous positive experiences. The opening lines, "Words thought they'd just fade away / But hurt gave them a place to stay," suggest that the speaker believed their words would be forgotten, but instead, they have left a lasting scar. This sets the tone for the rest of the song, where the protagonist is trapped in a cycle of regret and self-recrimination.

The chorus, with its repetition of "Every time I breathe / Every time I'm dreaming in my bed / 7 Days a week," emphasizes the inescapable nature of this regret. The protagonist is haunted by their past actions every moment of every day, unable to find peace even in sleep. The line "99 good things just 1 bad / But that 1's driving me mad" highlights the disproportionate impact of a single negative event on the speaker's psyche, overshadowing all the positive aspects of their life.

Arlissa's poignant delivery and the song's melancholic melody further amplify the sense of longing and sorrow. The repeated attempts to convince oneself that they did no wrong, only to be pulled back into the memory of that fateful day, reflect a universal struggle with guilt and the difficulty of moving on. "Every Time I Breathe" is a powerful exploration of how past mistakes can linger and shape our present, serving as a reminder of the importance of forgiveness and self-compassion.