Save Yourself

Birdy's song "Save Yourself" is a poignant exploration of a relationship that has reached its breaking point. The lyrics delve into the emotional toll of a love that has become more of a burden than a joy. The opening lines, "Love shouldn’t cost a thing / Tell me why / I’m paying for everything," set the stage for a narrative of imbalance and sacrifice. The singer questions the fairness of a relationship where one person seems to be giving everything while the other remains emotionally distant.

The recurring line, "Heaven knows, heaven knows / We’re forever changing," suggests an awareness of the inevitable transformations that relationships undergo. However, the follow-up, "There’s no way to save us," indicates a resignation to the fact that some changes lead to an irreparable rift. The imagery of "empty hearts that spare no one" paints a bleak picture of emotional desolation, where both parties are left hollow and incapable of love.

The chorus, with its plea to "Save yourself my darling / Just be gone by morning," is a heartbreaking call for self-preservation. It acknowledges that the relationship is beyond repair and that the best course of action is to part ways. The line "Kill the love that’s dying" is particularly striking, as it encapsulates the painful necessity of ending something that once brought joy but now only brings sorrow. Birdy's haunting vocals and the melancholic melody further amplify the song's themes of loss and the difficult decision to let go for the sake of one's own well-being.